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Lyr Req: Fear a' Bhata + Cailinn mo Ruin-sa

20 Aug 00 - 02:19 PM (#281214)
Subject: Gaelic Songs?
From: GUEST,John

My grandfather used to sing two old scottish songs and I am trying to locate the translations as a gift for my mother. Does anyone know( or have any idea where I could get) the songs 1)Fear a' Bhata and 2)Cailinn mo Ruin-sa. I'd appreciate any help in this area, thanks...John

20 Aug 00 - 02:42 PM (#281217)
Subject: Lyr Add: FEAR A'BHATA (English)^^^
From: Áine

Dear John,

Fear a' Bhata is in the Digitrad database, but here it is anyway:

FEAR A'BHATA (English)

I climb the mountain and scan the ocean
For thee, my boatman, with fond devotion
When shall I see thee? today? tomorrow?
Oh! do not leave me in lonely sorrow.

cho: O, my boatman, na horo aila, (3x)
May joy await thee where'er thou sailest.

Broken-hearted, I droop and languish,
And frequent tears show mg bosom's anguish;
Shall I expect thee tonight to cheer me?
Or close the door, sighing, sad and weary.

From passing boatmen I'd fain discover
If they have heard of or seen my lover;
They never tell me - I'm only chided,
And told my heart has been sore misguided

My lover promised to bring his lady
A silken gown and a tartan plaidie,
A ring of gold which would show his semblance
But, ah! I fear me for his remembrance.

That thou'rt a rover my friends have told me,
But not the less to my heart I hold thee;
And every night in my dream I see thee,
And still at dawn will the visions flee me.

I may not hide it - my heart's devotion
Is not a season's brief emotion;
Thy love in childhood began to seize me
And ne'er shall fade until death release me.

My friends oft tell me that I must sever
All thoughts of thee from my heart forever;
Their words are idle - my passions, swelling,
Untamed as ocean, can brook no quelling.

My heart is weary with ceaseless wailing,
Like wounded swan when her strength is failing
Her notes of anguish the lake awaken,
By all her comrades at last forsaken.

Note: This translation from the Gaelicis by Lachlan MacBean, and appears in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Highlands, Moffat. Pronunciation of the title is close to "eer a vata" MS

20 Aug 00 - 02:54 PM (#281219)
Subject: RE: Gaelic Songs?
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

John, both songs in the Gaelic are available on my Gaelic Songs page. They are in the Love Songs Section.

Gaelic Songs - http://www.geocities.com/~george_seto/gael_sng.html
Gaelic Love Songs - http://www.geocities.com/~george_seto/love_gae.html

I don't have translations for most of them.

20 Aug 00 - 03:26 PM (#281230)
Subject: RE: Gaelic Songs?
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Found a site that DOES have a translation for the missing verse in Cailinn Mo Ruin-sa:

http://www.ingeb.org/songs/ruinsa.html - Cailin Mo Ruin-sa & translation
Tune with the words for Cailin Mo Ruin-sa

Note! The translation on either of these songs is NOT necessarily a version which can be sung to the tune.

20 Aug 00 - 03:44 PM (#281241)
Subject: RE: Gaelic Songs?
From: Cobble

Try Capercaillie the Scottish Gaelic group the best you will ever hear these songs sung.

23 Aug 20 - 11:59 AM (#4069332)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a' Bhata
From: Felipa

Sandy Denny sang "a fhir a' bháta na horo eile" in the chorus but most of the words in English. What were her lyrics?

23 Aug 20 - 12:02 PM (#4069333)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a' Bhata + Cailin mo Ruin-sa
From: Felipa

George Seto's links don't work anymore, alas. (Have you got a new page, George?)
There are words in both Scottish Gaelic and Rathin Island Irish on other Mudcat threads (links could be added at top of the page) which is why I chose this thread to ask about another English language version.

23 Aug 20 - 01:56 PM (#4069343)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a' Bhata + Cailinn mo Ruin-sa
From: Cattia

in terre celtiche blog an english page with
Scottish gaelic version
Irish Gaelic version
(translated)
https://terreceltiche.altervista.org/fear-a-bhata/

Of all the versions in English (see), the most precious from the point of view of writing is certainly that of 1849 with the words translated from Gaelic by Thomas Pattison and the melodic arrangement of Malcolm Lawson (published in “Songs of the North “, MacLeod and Harold Boulton, 1895)
https://terreceltiche.altervista.org/my-boatman-fear-a-bhata/

23 Aug 20 - 07:36 PM (#4069396)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a' Bhata + Cailinn mo Ruin-sa
From: Georgiansilver

This is my own version which I used to sing in Folk Clubs in the 1980s.... I changed the words to define the mans role rather than the womans.
Fihr a bhata sna hóro éale
Fihr a bhata sna hóro éale
Fihr a bhata sna hóro éale
Oh fare thee well love where’re you be

How often haunting the highest hilltop
I scan the ocean, your boat to see
Will it come tonight love, will it come tomorrow
Will it e’er come, love, to comfort me?
Chorus

They call you fickle, they call you false one
And seek to change you, but all in vain
Thou art my dream but throughout the night love
And every morning I watch the Main
Chorus

There’s not a hamlet, but well I know it
Where you go sailing and stay a while
It’s all the old folk you win with talking
And charm its young men with song and smile
Chorus

Dost thou remember the promise made me?
That you’d for ever be faithful to me
I’d give gold ring and a dress of silk love
That ring and gown now, you’ll never see?
Chorus

23 Aug 20 - 07:41 PM (#4069397)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a' Bhata + Cailinn mo Ruin-sa
From: Georgiansilver

This is me singing my version .... acapella.... recently.