Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation

Subject: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: Nikkie
Date: 23 Dec 98 - 03:51 AM

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: Philippa
Date: 26 Jan 99 - 05:21 AM

Translation of the verses on the database (searchable in box at reader's top right-hand corner):

1)How sorrowful I am
When I rise early in the morning,
Ò hì I would walk with you.
Hì ri bhò.... o hò,
Brown-haired Alan, Ò hì, I would walk with you

2)If the sand be your pillow,
If the seaweed be your bed,
Ò hì I would walk with you
Hì ri bhò.... o hò,
Brown-haired Alan, Ò hì, I would walk with you

3)If the fish are your candles bright,
If the seals are your watchmen,
Ò hì I would walk with you
Hì ri bhò.... o hò,
Brown-haired Alan, Ò hì, I would walk with you

4)I would take a drink, though everyone would be scandalised,
Of your heart's blood after you were drowned.
Ò hì I would walk with you
Hì ri bhò.... o hò,
Brown-haired Alan, Ò hì, I would walk with you

There are at leasttwo tunes to which the song is sung. Best known now for Capercaillie version on the film "Rob Roy"
recordings: 1.McNeill, Flora. 'Folk Songs of Britain, Vol 1. Songs of Courtship', Caedmon TC 1142, LP (1961)[may also be on her recent CD 'Crann nan Ubhal'? And I think the Courtship LP has been reissued on CD]; Capercaillie, 'To the Moon'; Mac-talla, 'Mairidh Gaol is Ceol', Mac-meanma; The Whistlebinkies 4,Ceirníní Claddagh CC43

publications:
Peter Kennedy. 'Folksongs of Britain and Ireland'. London: Cassells, 1975 [also 1984 edition]

Margaret Fay Shaw. 'Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist'. London: Routledge Kegan Paul, 1955; 2nd edition Oxford University Press, 1977

Bruce Campbell, 'Oràin nan Gaidheail'. Glasgow: Gairm, 1987

Nikki, you didn't need to be so sycophantic! I'd have given you translation anyway. (are you the Nikki who gave me 'Dia Luain, Dia Máirt'???). I grew up monolingual in English, and learning Gaelic as an adult has taken a lot of work (and continues to do so). ...it has its rewards...

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: Philippa
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 09:04 AM

oh dear, more lost accented letters - Lyrics: = should be • (o\), 8 ~ 쳌, Notes: C‚irn¡n¡ - the ¡'s became 'f's, Dia M irt ~ Tuesday in Irish, not a German word

Here is a shortcut to the Gaelic in the Database

real audial of the Capercaillie recording of Ailean Duinn is available from Green Linnet Records

Capercaillie Lyrics are to be found at the Capercaillile web site . thanks to Alison for directing me to that site with lyrics for most of the group's recordings.

In Britain and Ireland, the Flora McNeil recording on songs of courtship should be available to purchase from Peter Kennedy in Gloucester and maybe also from John Moulden, Ulstersongs, Portrush (see Mudcat links page)

I've read the original Gaelic version of a play based on the song and the story by Tormod Domhnallach (Norman MacDonald). I hear it was also performed in English (with the song in Gaelic) on stage and on radio some time ago. I wonder would it be possible to get a tape of the radio programme on loan or to purchase? I suppose it was done for BBC Radio Scotland.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn -
From: Philippa
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 11:58 AM

A correction to my previous message:
Ulstersongs (John Moulden) is on the link page.
Folktrax (Peter Kennedy, mostly field recordings) doesn't have a website:
Send a stamp or International Reply Coupon for catalogue to: Folktrax Cassettes, Heritage House, 16 Brunswick Square, Gloucester GL1 1UG
For specific queries e-mail: [e-mail] OR phone +44 -(0)1452-415110/(0)1452-503643
My wording was ambiguous; Tormod Domhnallach wrote the play, not the song or the story. The song is about real people; see the notes in the database.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: A Celtic Harper
Date: 05 Mar 99 - 06:40 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

Subject: filtering through
From: Philippa
Date: 12 Apr 99 - 06:37 AM

Hello, I'm wondering what's been happening on the technical side of things. My transcription of 26 Jan above has been restored to it's proper appearance, while the correction of 25 Feb. now looks funny. That's okay with me, as there are far more Gaelic, Spanish etc songs in the forum archives from before the system upgrade than songs placed between the upgrades and the apparent refiltering. So now, I hope most of these songs appear with their correct diacritical marks.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From:
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 02:53 PM

Please send me the Celtic word for: "House of" I want to have it carved into stone above my name Kendrick.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 03:24 PM

If you mean Gaelic words they would be "tigh na" in Scottish Gaelic.
If you wanted to say " the house of ......." it would be "an tigh na ....."

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From:
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:49 PM

Actually, you wouldn't need the "na" unless it was something like "House of the MacDonald" which would be Taigh na Dhòmhnullach.

If it is to be "House of Kendricks", you would just use Taigh Kendricks. However, Kendricks isn't the Gaelic. Any idea what that would be?

You should ALSO put the Gaelic form of Kendrick into the Genitive after the "Taigh".

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:01 PM

Hi George,
Thanks!
   I'm not sure what the guest was looking for and my Gaelic is pretty bad. However , I agree that the "na" would not be necessary but it was what seemed to be requested. House of MacDonald would, I guess be more formal than MacDonald house.
       Slainte agus cum suas e!
                Sandy

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:04 PM

Also for the guest's benefit either spelling for house is correct.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 03:39 AM

what do the last 5 messages have to do with the song?!

Subject: Lyr Add: AILEIN DUINN - English translation
From: GUEST,me
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:54 PM

May it be an evening star shines down on you.
May it be when darkness falls you heart will be true.
You walk a lonely road, though how far you often go.
Born again, your true love carry me.
Believe and you will find a way.
Born again I learned to love. I promise you.
Born again, I learned to love.
May it be, she flew away.
May it be your journey long to light the way.
When light is overcome, you may rise to find the sun.
Born again, your true love carry me.
Believe and you will find a way.
I promise this to let you go.
I promise this within me now.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: GUEST,ME
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:57 PM

dUNNO, BUT i HAVE IT. i HAVE SPEAKEN IRISH MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I TRANSLATED IT.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:58 PM

My english ain't great.

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: dianavan
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 05:40 AM

so tigh na Mara means?

House of Mary or House by the sea or...?

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From:
Date: 10 Apr 05 - 01:28 PM

Guest, Me, looks great, but it seems more like a poem based on the song. Philippa's translation seems more like an actual translation from what I read in the song itself. Which verses are you "translating"?

Subject: RE: Ailein Duinn - English Translation Please!
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 08:13 AM

tigh = taigh = house na mara = of the sea

there are several versions of this song

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation
From: samirich
Date: 09 Dec 05 - 05:51 PM

From Marjory Kennedy Fraser's "Songs of the Hebrides"
Traditional verses collected and literally translated by Kenneth Macleod.

It is me that is under sorrow
In the early morn and me arising_

'Tis not the death of the kine in May-month
But the wetness of thy winding-sheet.

Thought mine were a fold of cattle
Sure little my care for them to-day.

Ailein Duinn, calf of my heart,
Art thou adrift on Erin's shore?

That not my choice of a stranger-land,
But a place where my cry would reach thee.

Ailein Duinn, my spell and my laughter,
Would, O King, that I were near thee,

On whatso bank or creek thou ar't stranded,
On whatso beach the tide has left thee.

I would drink a drink, gainsay it who might,
But not of the glowing wine of Spain__

*The blood of thy body , O Love, I would rather
The blood that comes from thy throat hollow.

O may God bedew thy soul
With what I got of they sweet caresses,

With what I got of thy secret-speech,
With what I got of thy honey-kisses.

My prayer to thee, O King of the Throne,
That I go not in earth nor in linen,

That I go not in hole ground nor hidden-place
But in the tangle where lies my Ailean.

Alexander Carmichael in his "Carmina Gadelica" Vol II p 282 alludes to this song, saying :Anne Campbell, daughter of Donald Campbell, the entertainer of Prince Charlie at Scalpay, Harris, was exceptionally handsome. She was about to be married to Captain Allan Morrison, Crosbost, Lews. He was drowned on the way to his marriage. Anne Capbelll composed a beautiful lament for her lover."

*The old Celts drank a friend's blood as a mark of affection. In the early years of the 19th Century. Beathag Mhor, "Big Bethia" (MacDonald?) a poetess of Trotternish, Skye, drank "a mild intoxicating drink of the blood" of Martin, the tacksman of Duntulm, "and gave she thanks to Providence that she would have that much of her lover at anyrate." Alexander Carmichael has pointed out that both Shakespeare and Spenser refer to this custom.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation
From: GUEST,guest, Michelle
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 04:01 PM

What language is this in? I absolutely love this song and would love to learn how to sing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation
From:
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 11:21 PM

Scottish Gaelic, see Philippa's post of Feb 25, 99

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation
From:
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 11:22 PM

Oh, if it had been Irish Gaelic Philippa would have said Irish or Gaelige

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation
From: GUEST,twinkletoez1991
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 11:32 AM

Does anyone know where I can get the sheet music for Ailein Duinn? I've searched everywhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 09:31 PM

You could try contacting Gaelic singer Fiona Mackenzie, who's also recorded this song. Her myspace is www.myspace.com/fionajmackenzie, where you can also hear her singing this. She'd know if anyone did of any sheet music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn - English translation
From: maple_leaf_boy
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 06:15 PM

This song is in the movie "Rob Roy", sung by Karen Matheson. A very
fine Gaelic singer. One of my favorites.