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Lyr Req: 'S Fhada Leam an Oidhche Gheamhraidh

12 Feb 00 - 11:08 AM (#177149)
Subject: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: GUEST,Wavestar

Hi there- I'm new to this forum, but I've been finding your lyrics search engine very useful! I'm in Scotland just now, actually, and I have a friend looking for a translation to a Gaelic emigrant song titled 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhraidh, or, (we think) These winter nights are long for me. Dougie MacLean released a version on his latest album, with one verse translated into English, but my friend is looking for more information on the song, which is apparently an immigrant song written in America by a Scottish Immigrant. Does anyone know anything?

Thanks for whatever help you can give me... -Jessica Buster


12 Feb 00 - 11:55 AM (#177158)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'S fhada Leam An Oidhche Gheamhraidh
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Yes, that is the title. I haven't worked out the words into English, but I think I'll have to have a look at it.

Will get back to you.


13 Feb 00 - 10:41 AM (#177599)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: GUEST,Neil Comer

Could you post the lyrics, and i'll give you a translation


13 Feb 00 - 11:56 AM (#177629)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: GUEST,Wavestar

I'll post the lyrics as soon as I can, unfortunately they've gone back to Pittenweem for the evening, So I'll put them up tomorrow morning my time. Thanks for all of your help, everyone!

-Jessica


13 Feb 00 - 02:54 PM (#177703)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Here are the lyrics from Dougie MacLean

http://home.wish.net/~nisto/sfhada.htm


14 Feb 00 - 05:29 PM (#178285)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I think: 'S fhada leam an oidhche gheamhraidh - Long to me, the winter's night
'S fhada 's fhada 's fhada leam i Long, long, long it is to me
'S nach fhaic mi ach préiridh lom ann And I don't see anything but prairie ***** there
'S cha chluinn tonn ri tigh'nn gu traigh ann And waves are not heard coming often there

Séist O fali fali o ro - Vocable
      Fali fali fali fali o ro - Vocables
      Fali fali fali o ro - Vocables

That's all I can do without getting my dictionary out. Back at you later.


15 Feb 00 - 12:01 AM (#178533)
Subject: RE: 'S fhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: GUEST,Philippa

The English verse given on the Dougie McLean page is close enough in meaning to the first verse.

I can converse in Scottish Gaelic, but I'm not that fluent and accurate (it's different from Irish). I'd translate the last line of the chorus - 's cian nan cian bho dh'fhag mi Leodhas - as "It seems an eternity since I left the isle of Lewis"

and the last verse as
In the dusk of evening, my spirit is often forlorn, thinking that I am so far from where I would wish to be (dol a cheilidh = to visit).

George, if you add this song to your web page, you could make some improvements. The MacLean page lacks accent marks and there are some typos in the text:
ghemhraidh = gheamhraidh [winter]
leodhas = Leodhas [Lewis]
spoirad = spiorad [spirit]
smaoineachadg = smaoineachadh [thinking]

a Néill, is toil leam aithne a chur air dhaoine eile ann an Eirinn aig a bheil uidh anns a' Ghàidhlig. - Agus tha mi toilichte nach eil na hoidhcheannan cho fada nas motha.


15 Feb 00 - 05:44 AM (#178619)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Philippa, I was thinking that too, but also since I looked up last night the WHOLE song, including the author's name. Found it in a book, Eilean Fraoch. The line with Leodhas, was what gave me the clue it might be in there, and sure enough. There are actually 6 verses to the whole thing.


15 Feb 00 - 05:50 AM (#178621)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I made two errors out of my head. The line with "trà" actually is shore, so the line says

And waves not heard coming to shore there.

Also, the word "lom" is bare, so the line goes,

I don't see anything but the bare prairie there.


15 Feb 00 - 09:35 PM (#179100)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: GUEST

Hi there-

Thank you both so much for your help.. this is great. My friend will be delighted... I'll stick around mudcat, I think, and see what else useful I can find!

Cheers, Jessica


15 Feb 00 - 09:47 PM (#179103)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: Crowhugger

We're glad to have you, Jessica!


16 Feb 00 - 08:20 AM (#179302)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I heartily agree with Crowhugger. Fàilte, Jessica.

I've posted the first two verses, corrected the spelling, here at

'S Fhada Leam an Oidhche Gheamhraidh

I posted my take on the translation too.
As I get time, I will do up the other 4 verses. The song was written by Murdo MacFarlane, whom I have credited. I believe he spent some time in Canada, probably out on the Prairie. Anyone have further details on this Lewisman?


16 Feb 00 - 08:27 AM (#179306)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Oops! I spelled that wrong. 'S Fhada Leam an Oidhche Gheamhraidh


17 Feb 00 - 01:44 PM (#180135)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: Wavestar

Thanks so much, George- I'll be waiting for whenever you can get around to translatig and posting the other verses... Cheers, J


09 Oct 09 - 09:36 AM (#2741974)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Sfhada Leam An Oidche Ghemhriadh
From: GUEST,Didne


10 Oct 09 - 12:00 PM (#2742840)
Subject: Lyr Add: 'S Fhada Leam an Oidhche Gheamhraidh
From: Jim Dixon

Copied from http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Zone/6338/fhadleam.htm

'S Fhada Leam an Oidhche Gheamhraidh
Faclan Le Murchadh Chalum Dhòmhnuill Chaluim, Bàrd Mhealaboist 1901-1983
(Murdo MacFarlane)
Fonn - 'S Cian Bho Dh'fhàg Mi Leódhas

Séist Fàili, fàili, fàili ó ro;
Fàili, fàili, fàili ó ro;
Fàili, fàili, fàili ó ro;
'S cian nan cian bho dh'fhàg mi Leódhas.

'S fhada leam an oidhche gheamhraidh,
'S fhada 's fhada 's fhada leam i,
'S nach fhaic mi ach préiridh lom ann,
'S cha chluinn tonn ri tigh'nn gu tràigh ann.

'N àm do'n fheasgar a bhi ciaradh,
'S tric a bhios mo spiorad cìanail;
Smaoineachadh g' eil cian nan cian uam,
Far 'm bu mhiann leam dhol a chéilidh.
        

Ch Fàili, fàili, fàili ó ro;
Fàili, fàili, fàili ó ro;
Fàili, fàili, fàili ó ro;
And it's a long time since I left Lewis.

Long is the winter's night to me
Long, long, long it is to me.
I saw nothing but bare prairie there
And didn't hear a wave coming to shore there.

During the evening, at dusk
Often, my spirit would be alone,
Thinking that I wanted to be forever
Where I loved to go visiting