Lyr Add: Nighean Donn na Buaile

Subject: Lyr Add: Nighean Donn na Buaile
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:23 AM

A NIGHEAN DONN NA BUAILE
Donald Fraser

A nighean donn na buaile
Dham beil an gluasad reigh
Dp chalpannan deas boidheach
Troigh chòmhnard nach lùb feur
Do shlìos cho geal is an fhaoilinn
Air madainn chiùin ri gréin
Nach gòrach mi thug gaol dhut
Is nach fhaod sinn bhith reidh.

Cha tug mi gaol do dh'airgead
Is cha tug mi gaol do dh'òr
Cha tug mi gaol don fhìon dhearg
Tha lìonadh anns an stòp
Cha tug mi gaol do shìde
Cha tug mi gaol do stròl
Is nach neònach leibh an gaol sin
Tha daondan am leòn.

Is ged gheibhinn-sa an Roinn Eorpa
Is na bheil de stòras innt'
Ged gheibhinn siud o m'ordugh
Is àite-còmhnaidh innt',
Ged dh'éighte 'na mo dhiùc mi
Is ged chrùnta mi 'nam rìgh
O b'annsa bhith riut pòsda
Mar diùltadh tu mi.

Dè rinn mi ort de dh'eugoir
Gun tréigeadh tu mi
Cha tugainn-sa beum ort
Ged a dhiùlt thu mi
Cha chreidinn-sa droch-sgeul ort
Cha bu léir dhomh i
Is ged chuireadh iad a' bhreug ort
Chan éisdinn-sa rith'.

Mo chridhe cha dèan éirigh
Ged dh'&#f233isdinn-sa ceòol
M'aigne chan eil aodrom
Ged is fheudar dhomh bhith beo
Tha lìonn-dubh air m'fhaotainn
Is mi daondan fo bhròn
O b'fhearr mun tug mi gaol dhut
Bhith an caol ciste nam bord.

From the recording 'James Campbell of Kintail – Gaelic Songs', no. 8 in the 'Scottish Tradition Series' on Greentrax Recordings (although I have the older Tangent LP). These recordings were made under the auspices of the School of Scottish Studies and are accompanied by booklets including lyrics, translation and background notes:

Translation
Brown-haired girl of the cattle-fold who moves so smoothly, your calves neat and pretty, gentle foot that does not bend the grass, your side as white as the seagull on a calm sunny morning – how foolish I was to love you since we cannot agree.

I never loved money, I never loved gold, I never love the red wine that fills the stoup; I never loved silk, I never loved satin – isn't it strange, do you not think, this love that is ever wounding me.

Though I should get Europe with all its treasures: though I'd have that at my command and a place to live there; though I were proclaimed a duke or crowned King – O, I'd far sooner be married to you if only you would not reject me.

What wrong have I done you that you should have deserted me? I'd never cause you hurt although you refused me. Nor could I believe an ill report of you even if it were plain for me to see – and if they spread lies about you I would not listen.

My heart will not rise although I should listen to music, my spirits are not light though I have to stay alive. Melancholy has taken me and I am always sorrowful. O, better to have been, before ever I loved you, in the narrow, boarded coffin.


My comment: The lyrics show some resemblance to an Irish song, Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó see this thread: Pretty Maid Milking …
The last lines are a very familiar sentiment in Gaelic love songs!

Notes from the booklet:
''A Nighean Donn na Buaile is a love-song composed by Donald Fraser, Fannich, in the 19th century. The song, which was popular in Kintail, was taught to J.C.M. Campbell by his father, who was brought up at the head of Glen Cannich, just within the border of Kintail. It is probably modeled on one or several older songs. Donald Fraser's song in turn may have influenced variants of these. The fine image of the girl's foot-step – so light that it does not bend the grass – is one of the stock descriptions in the rhetoric of love and praise in Gaelic song.

''This is one of those airs that has crossed many boundaries – being also a popular vehicle for songs of the bothies of north-eastern Scotland. The Hairst of Rettie (on Scottish Tradition 1: Bothy Ballads…) being one such example. The tune contains many features one associates with 19th – century Irish airs, namely the frequent use of the 6th degree as the highest point of the scale, the prominent use of the 4th degree (which, other than in certain pentatonic forms, is rare in earlier Scottish and Irish Gaelic melodies) and the reiterated tonic note at the end. An earlier melody for this song is to be found in the Elizabeth Ross manuscript of Gaelic melodies (1812)''

The booklet gives notation for Elizabeth Ross's setting, but not for James Campbell's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nighean Donn na Buaile
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:25 AM

Pretty Maid (Girl) Milking a Cow
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=6543&messages=61

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nighean Donn na Buaile
From: MMario
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 03:45 PM

elisabeth Ross's setting - from Philippa's source above.

X:1
T:A Nighean Donn na Buile
I:abc2nwc
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Bb
z6zB|B/2 d3/2 c3/2 B/2 {B}G2B G|F3/2 G/2 F D D F F B|
d f {d}c B {B}G2B G|F3/2 G/2 B3/2 d/2 c B B2|
F3/2 G/2 F D {D}F2F B|G3/2 F/2 G B c2c d|f3/2 g/2 f d {c}d2G3/2 F/2|
F/2 d3/2 c3/2 B/2 B G G2|]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Nighean Donn na Buaile
From: Felipa
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 05:23 PM

grazie, MMario

I see two mistakes in one line I typed in the last verse:
Ged dh'éisdinn-sa ceól