Ailein Duinn [Rob Roy]
Ailein Duinn, o ho hi, shiubhlainn leat
(Ailean Donn, o ho hi, I'd go with thee)
Hi ri ri, ri u o, hi o hug hoireann o, Hi ri ri, etc.
Ailein Duinn, o ho hi, shuibhlainn leat
(Brown-haired Allan, o ho hi, I'd go with thee)
'S bochd an nochd na bheil air m'aire
(Tonight sad thoughts my mind are filling)
Miad na sine, fuachd na gaillinn
(The strength of the storm, the cold of th' tempest)
Miad na sine, fuachd na gaillinn
(The strength of th' storm, the cold of th' tempest)
Dh'fhuadaicheadh na fir o' charraig
(That drove the men from the shore's shelter)
Dh'fhuadaicheadh na fir o' charraig
(That drove the men from the shore's shelter)
Chuireadh iad a' bhoid dha' aindeoin
(Sent them on a voyage unwilling)
Far an trom an laigh a' ghailleann
(Where the gale blows so heavy)
Cha b'e siod leam ar diol caladh
('Twas not, I think, your choice of harbour)
Ach Caolas Diadhair anns na Hearadh
(Rather Diadhair Sound in Harris)
Far am bi na feidh air bhearradh
(Where the deer are on the hilltops)
Dobhran donn is laogh breac ballach
(Otter brown and fawn all spotted)
Gura mise th'air mo leireadh
Cha -e bas a' chruidh 'sa Cheitein
No tainead mo bhuaile spreidhe
Ach a fhlichead 's tha do leine
'S tu bhith 'm barr nan tonn ag eirigh
Mucan mar bhith 'gad reubadh
Bhith 'gad ghearradh as a cheile
Ailein Duinn, a laoigh mo cheilleadh
Gura h-og a thug mi speis dhut
Nuair a bha thu ' sgoil na Beurla
Nuair a bha sinn ann le cheile
Gum paigheadh Dia siod ri t'anam
Mhiad 's a fhuair mi d' chuid gun cheannach
Piosan caola geal' an anart
Neapagain do ' t-sioda bhallach
Thug thu fhein, a ghaoil, a Manainn
Ailein Duinn, a mhiann nan leannan
Chuala mi gun deach thu fairis
Air a' bhata laidir dharaich
Ma 's fhior siod, cha bhi mi fallain
Gu la brach cha dian mi bainis
M'iarrtas air Righ na Cathrach
Gun mo chur an uir no ' gaineamh
An talamh toll no ' aite daingeann
'N seombar cuil no ' aite daingeann
Ach 'sa bhall am b thu, Ailein
'S truagh, a Righ ! nach mi bha ' laimh riut
Ge be bagh no sgeir an traigh thu
Ge be tiurr am fag an lan thu
'S cul do chinn air bhac mo laimhe
Do chul dualach, cuachach, fainneach
Dh'olainn deoch, ge b'oil le cach e
Cha b'ann do bhurn no do shaile
No do dh'fhion dearg na Spainte
Ach fuil do chuim 's tu ' deidh do bhathadh
Gura buidhe nochd dha d' mhathair
Bho nach 'eil thu beo 's tu baite
Ailein Duinn, o ho hi, shiubhlainn leat
Hi ri ri, ri u o, hi o hug hoir o
Ailein Duinn, o ho hi shiubhlainn leat
Truly I am sore tormented
Not by death of stock in springtime
Nor by th' fewness of my cattle
But by thy clothing's dampness
And that thou art on wavetop floating
While sea monsters rend thy body
And are tearing thee asunder
Ailean Donn, king of my senses
Young I was when first I lov'd thee
When you were getting English schooling
When we were in school together
May God repay thy soul, I'm praying
What of thy own store thou gav'st me
Silver shinings, wrapped in linen
Speckled tablecloths, all silken
Which you brought from Manann's Island
Ailean Donn, my chosen sweetheart
I did hear that you went over
On the vessel, strong and oaken
If 'tis true, I'll not recover
Till Doomsday I'll have no wedding
I pray unto the King of Heaven
In earth or sand I'll not be buried
Nor in quagmire or place of hiding
Nor in back-room, nor in stronghold
But the spot where thou art, Ailean
Alas, O God, I was not beside thee
Whatever bay or rock thou'lt come on
Whatever tide-mark the flood will leave thee
Thy head in my hand-palm cradled
With curling, flowing hair in ringlets
I'd drink, though all abhor it
Not of the sea, nor of fresh water
Nor of the red Spanish claret
But thy heart's blood, after thy drowning
Thanks tonight unto thy mother
Since thou art drowned and liv'st no longer