Lyr Add: Cagaran Gaolach

Subject: Lyr Add: CAGARAN GAOLACH
From:
Date: 30 Sep 97 - 08:06 PM

I said I would post a lullaby. Here is a lullaby of thievery.

"This is a lullaby that was recorded by Dr. John Shaw from Jim MacDonald of Big Pond, Nova Scotia in 1977. It has its origins in Lochaber, Scotland, & takes the form of a praise poem to the little baby, saying he will perform great feats, in this case the stealing of goats and sheep." From Mary Jane Lamond's Bho Thir Nan Craobh (From The Land of the Trees), B. & R. Heritage Enterprises BRCD0001.

Here is historical proof that the Scots encouraged sheep-stealing:)


CAGARAN GAOLACH

Cagaran, cagaran, cagaran gaolach,
Cagaran laghach thu, fear dhe mo dhaoine,
Goididh egobhar dhomh, goididh e caoraich,
Goididh e sithean a innis an aonaich.

Cagaran, cagaran, cagan gaolach
Cagaran odhar na cloinneam mo dhaoine
Goiddh e gobhar dhomh, goididh e caoraich
Goididh e laos-buig air innis an aonaich.

Cagaran, cagaran, cagaran gaolach
Cagaran laghach thu, cagaran gaol thu
Dean do chadalan, duin do shuilean
Rinn thu cadalan, fosgail do shuilean

TRANSLATION:
Little darling, little darling, lovable little darling
Pleasant little darling, one of my own kin
He will steal goats for me, he will steal sheep
He will steal a fairy man from the hillside meadow.

Little darling, little darling, lovable little darling
Pale little darling, a child of my own kin
He will steal goats for me, he will steal sheep
He will steal a wether goat on the hillside meadow.

Little darling, little darling, lovable little darling
Pleasant little darling, darling of my love
Go to sleep, close your eyes
Wake up again, open your eyes.