Lyr Req: Fhear a Bhata (from The Fureys)

Subject: fhear a bhata
From:
Date: 26 Jun 98 - 07:17 AM

I'm looking for the words of the song Fhear a bhata recorded by the Fureys. Does anybody know it?

See these related threads:
Lyric Req: Old Scottish Lament
fhear a bhata
The Boatman (or Fhir a Bhata)
Lyric request: Fear a Bhata (gaelic)
LYR REQ: Fear an batha?
Lyric assist - Fhir a Bhata
Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
Lyr/Chords Req: Fear A Bhata
--JoeClone, 16-May-02.

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: Barry Finn
Date: 26 Jun 98 - 09:25 AM

Try searching for Fear A'Bhata, it's in the DT. Barry

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 26 Jun 98 - 06:16 PM

Can anyone provide the version with the Gaelic chorus?

Subject: Lyr Add: FEAR A BHATA / MY BOATMAN
From: alison
Date: 26 Jun 98 - 09:14 PM

Hi,

Here's a gaelic version.

FEAR A BHATA (MY BOATMAN)

Chorus: Fhir a bhata 'sna horo eile
Fhir a bhata 'sna horo eile
Fhir, a bhata 'sna horo eile
Mo shoraidh slan leat 's gach ait an teid thu

'S tric mi sealltuinn o'n chnoc a's airde
Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear a bhata
An tig thu'n diugh no'n tig thu maireach
'S mur tig thu idir gu truagh a ta mi

Tha mo chridhe-sa briste bruite
'S tric na deoir a ruith o'm shuilean
An tig thu nochd no'm bi mo dhuil riut
No'n duin mi'n dorus le osna thursaich

'S tric mi faighneachd de luchd nam bata
Am faic iad thu, no 'm bheil thu sabhailt;
Ach 'sann a tha gach aon diubh 'g raitinn
Gur gorach mise ma thug mi gradh dhuit

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: Steve
Date: 27 Jun 98 - 06:05 PM

This is my first time at the Mudcat, but Silly Wizard also does Fhear a Bhata. It's on their Caladonia's Hardy Sons release. You can find it at the Silly Wizard web site.

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: Cuilionn
Date: 28 Jun 98 - 02:42 AM

Aye, ye'll find a hantle o' folk daein' that song, as 'tis a favorite wi' mony's th' weel-wattered Hielander. I've haird report o' folk liftin' glasses an' swayin' in time tae sing it. Ane o' th' Gaelic students o'er here wrote a grand parody called "Fear a' Bhainne." This turns it frae a song aboot a Boatman intae a song aboot a Milkman, and 'tis verra canty an' fine. Gie me a day tae ransack (good waird frae th' Gaelic, that...) my files, an' I'll write up th' Gaelic lyrics wi' a bit o' my ain puir translatin'.

Gabh spòrs,

--Cuilionn

Subject: Lyr Add: FEAR AN BHATA (Irish Gaelic)
From: Philippa
Date: 28 Apr 99 - 01:26 PM

I'd imagine the Fureys do the Irish version, though it being in Rathlin Island Irish (a defunct dialect) is very similar to the Scottish Gaelic as given by Alison. I've seen a printed copy with more verses of the Irish, but the verses I have are the ones most often sung. You can get more in Scottish Gaelic at George Seto's song site Look under òrain ghaoil/ love songs. The versions in the database are in english.

FEAR AN BHATA (Irish version)

Théid mé suas ar an chnoc is airde,
Féach an bhfeic mé fear an bháta;
An dtig thú anocht, nó an dtig thu amárach?
Nó muna dtig thú idir is trua atá mé.

[chorus]
A fhir an bháta, is na hó-ro eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hó-ro eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hó-ro eile
Mo shoraidh sl´n leat gach áit a dtéid thú.

Tá mo chroí-se briste, brúite,
Is tric na deoir a rith bho mo shúilean;
An dtig thú inniu nó am bidh mé dúil leat,
Nó an druid mé an doras le osna thuirseach?

Thug mé gaol dhuit is chan fhéad mé athrú
Cha gaol bliana, is cha gaol ráithe;
Ach gaol ó thoiseacht, nuair bhá mé 'mo pháiste,
Is nach seasc a choíche mé 'gus chloígh an bás mé.

á = a/ =á
é = e/ = é
í = i/ = í
ó = o/ = ó
ú = u/ = ú

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: Philippa
Date: 28 Apr 99 - 02:13 PM

correction: sl'n should read slán (sla/n) Cuilionn, please return to the café and tell us about the Milkman; bha tide gu leòr agad air son rannsachaidh (the Gaelic and the English word both come from the Norse, ransacking reputedly being a Viking past-time. I love the way the word is used in Gaelic for 'researching'!)

Subject: Lyr Add: FHEAR A BHATA (from Silly Wizard)
From:
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 04:06 PM

Silly Wizards recorded a mostly English version, here are the lyrics as I found them:

FHEAR A BHATA (THE BOATMAN)

How often haunting the highest hilltop
I scan the ocean, a sail to see
Will it come tonight, love, will it come tomorrow
Or ever come, love, to comfort me

Chorus
A fhir an bháta, is na hó-ro eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hó-ro eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hó-ro eile
O fare thee well, love, where'er thou be

They call thee fickle, they call thee false one
And seek to change me but all in vain
Thou art my dream yet through the dark night
And every moment I watch the main

Chorus

There's not a hamlet, too well I know it,
Where you go wandering or stay awhile
But all its old folk you win with talking
And charm its maidens with song and smile

Chorus

Doth thou remember the promise made me,
A token plaid, a silken gown
That ring of gold with your hair and portrait
That gown and ring I will never own

Chorus

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 07:09 PM

Thanks, Cindy

Subject: Lyr Add: FHIR A' BHÁTA (Rathlin Island, Ireland)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:13 PM

The following verses of Fear a' Bháta were collected in Rathlin Island. I have copied them from Nollaig Ó hUrmoltaigh, "Ceolta Uladh 3", Belfast 1974. The notes say they were previously published in "Céad de Cheoltaibh Uladh" by Éinrí Ó Muirgheasa (1874 - 1945). I had borrowed the latter book from my local library sometime ago (see the thread about "Fill, a rúin") and I went to look for it again to see what Ó Muirgheasa said about the song; alas the book has vanished. [Another book by Ó Muirgheasa, "Dhá Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh" seems to be easier to find - it was in both libraries I visited today and I already have a copy.] // Oh by the way, this seems to be the song in question when people say there is a Scottish version of Dónal Óg. Ó Tuama gives the verse "Thug mi gaol dhut ..." ("Thug mé gaol duit )..." as an example of a loan or travelling verse common to Dónal Óg and Fear a' Bháta.

FEAR A' BHÁTA

Théid mé suas ar an chnoc is airde,
Féach an bhfeic mé fear an bháta,
An dtig thú 'nocht, nó an dtig thú 'márach?
Is mun dtig thú idir is trua athá mé.

Luinneog:
' Fhir a' bháta, 's na hóró eile,
' Fhir a' bháta, 's na hóró,
' Fhir a' bháta, 's na hóró,
Céad míle fna háilte gach áit a dtéid thú.

Tá mo croíse briste brúite,
'S tric na deoir a' rith óm shúile;
' dtig thú inniu nó am bidh mé ' dúil leat,
Nó an druid mé an doras le osna tuirseach.

Is tric mé ' fiosrach de lucht na mbátan
A' bhfeic iad ú, nó a' bhfuil thú sábhailt';
Ach is ann atá chuile haon dhá ráidht
Gur górach mise má thug mé grá dhuit

Gheall mo leannán domh gúna den tsíoda,
Gheall é sin agus breacan riabhach,
Fáinne óir insa bhfeicfinn íomha,
Ach is eagal liomsa go dean é díchuimhne.

Chan fhuil baile beag ins am bidh thú,
Nach dean thú gléas a chur do scíos dhuit;
Beir thú lámh ar do leabhar ríofa,
Ag gabháil duanóg is ag buaireamh 'níon óg.

Ged adúirt iad go raibh thú éadrom,
Cha do laghdaigh súd mo ghaol ort,
Ba thú mo aisling insan oíche,
Is insa mhaidin bha mé dhá éineacht.

Thug mé gaol dhuit is chan fhéad mé athrú
Cha gaol bliana, is cha gaol ráithe,
Ach gaol ó thoiseacht, nuair bhá mé 'mo pháiste,
'S nach seasc a choíche mé 'gus cloí an bás mé.

Tá mo chairdean go tric a' ráidht
Go bhféad mé d'íomhá a chur ar díchuimhne,
Ach tá an chomhairle domh comh diamhair
Is a bheith a' stad an trá is an líonadh.

Tá mo chroíse ag dhul anairde,
Chan ó fhidleoir is chan ó chláirseoir,
Ach ó stiúrthóir an bháta,
'S mun dtig thú abhaile gur trua athá mé.

Bidh mé tuille go tuirseach déarach,
Mar eala bhán 's í 'ndiaidh a réabtha,
Guileog báis aici ar lochan féarach,
Is cách uile i ndiaidh a tréigsin.

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: Noreen
Date: 25 Mar 02 - 06:07 PM

See also: Lyr/Chords Req: Fear A Bhata

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 09:15 AM

the Scots Gaelic lyrics at George Seto's site (see llink above, my message April 1999!) are the same verses in the same order as the Rathlin Island rendition I pasted in above. I find it interesting that the songs in two dialects are that close.

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From:
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 05:39 PM

Phillipa, that is most interesting. Since I am not familiar with the Irish coast, where would the Rathlin Island be compared to the Scottish Hebridean islands?

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:48 PM

9 miles off shore from Ballycastle, Co Antrim - Not all that far from Kintyre and Islay and Jura. Robert the Bruce was there. You'll know about the kingdom of Dal Riada. Rathlin is almost as Scottish as Irish; it's now firmly part of N Ireland -- but CalMac runs the ferry service.

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From:
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 08:51 PM

Ah! That's probably why there is the similarity between the two versions. The closeness of the two areas (Northern Ireland and Hebridean Isles) is why (so I've been told), the residents can usually understand each other's speech in their respective tongues.

Subject: RE: fhear a bhata
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 01 Jun 02 - 02:15 PM

Éinrí Ó Muirgheasa, writing circa 1915, had little to say about the origins of this song except that it "was written down from Mrs. James Glass of Rathlin. It has, I think, been published already in the Irish Independent by Aoidhmhin Mac Greagóir, who has made a very particular study of the Rathlin dialect." Otherwise, Ó Muirgheasa's notes are essentially a translation of the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fhear a Bhata (from The Fureys)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Feb 10 - 10:59 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scoB-A0DQuk