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Ailein Duinn
Gura mise tha fo éislean, |
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note: Allan Morrison was a sea captain from the isle of Lewis. In the spring of 1788 he left Stornoway to go to Scalpay, Harris, where he was to marry Annie Campbell. Unfortunately they sailed into a storm and all the crew sank with the vessel. This is the lament she composed. The broken-hearted Annie wasted away through grief and died a few months afterward. Her body was washed ashore near where her fiance's was found. There are quite a few variants of this song. CC |
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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): 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 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 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 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 least two 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... oh dear, more lost accented letters - Lyrics: = should be (ò), 8 ~ , Notes: Cirn¡n¡ - the ¡'s became 'f's, Dia M irt ~ Tuesday in Irish, not a German word [60] Here is a shortcut to the Gaelic in the Database real audial of the Capercaillie recording of Ailean Duinn is available from [61] Green Linnet Records Capercaillie Lyrics are to be found at [62] 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: peter@folktrax.demon.co.uk 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: filtering through [85] From: [86] Philippa - [87] PM 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. |
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