Sinnsear Seanachuimhneach
Beautiful Gaelic melodies such as this one by Julie Fowlis must have been sung about many a Clan Donald maiden whose love was on the high seas. A great deal about Gaelic (or Celtic) culture may be learned from just this one traditional song. The translation reveals that it was usually sung by a man who sings his admiration of a woman yearning for her love who is at sea. The lyrics go on about her tearful prayer her love would be protected at sea before the last verse in which the singer reveals himself as her love who has returned from the sea! (A song that brought comfort to sailors, but not the maidens left behind).
Gàidhlig (Gaelic):
Tha Mo Ghaol Air Àird A’ Chuain à “Cróga”
Feasgar ciùin an tùs a’ Chèitein,
Nuair bha ‘n ialtag anns na speuran,
Chualaim rìbhinn òg ‘s i deurach
Bha a’ ghrian ‘sa chuan gu sìoladh
‘S reult cha d’ èirich anns an iarmailt
Nuair a sheinn an òigh gu cianail
“Tha mo ghaol air àird a’ chuain”
Thòisich dealt na h-oidhch’ ri tùirling
‘S lùb am braon gu caoin na flùrain
Shèid a’ ghaoth ‘na h-oiteig chùbhraidh
Beatha ‘s ùrachd do gach cluan
Ghleus an nighneag fonn a h-òrain
Sèimh is ciùin mar dhriùchd an Òg-mhìos
‘S bha an t-sèisd seo ‘g èirigh ‘n còmhnaid
“Tha mo ghaol air àird a’ chuain”
Chiar an latha is dheàrrs’ na reultan
Sheòl an rè measg neul nan speuran
Shuidh an òigh, bha ‘bròn ‘ga lèireadh
‘S cha robh dèigh air tàmh no suain
Theann mi faisg air reult nan òg-bhean
Sheinn mu ‘gaol air chuan ‘bha seòladh
O bu bhinn a caoidhrean brònach
“Tha mo ghaol air àird a’ chuain”
Rinn an ceòl le deòin mo thàladh
Dlùth do rìbinn donn nam blàth-shul
‘S i ag ùrnaigh ris an Àrd-Rìgh
Dìon mo ghràdh ‘th’ air àird a’ chuain”
Bha a cridh’ le gaol gu sgàineadh
Nuair a ghlac mi fhèin air làimh i
“Siab do dheòir, do ghaol tha sàbhailt”
Thill mi slàn bhàrr àird a’ chuain
English translation:
“My love is on the high seas” from “Brave”
On a quiet evening at the beginning of May
When the bat was in the skies
I heard a tearful young maiden
The sun was setting in the sea
And no stars yet graced the sky
When the young girl sang sorrowfully
“My love is on the high seas”
The night’s dew began to fall
Each bloom yielding softly to the droplets
The wind blew in a fragrant breeze
Bringing life and renewal to each field
The girl tunefully sang her song
Quiet and peaceful like the June dew
And this chorus constantly repeated
“My love is on the high seas”
Day darkened and the stars shone
Setting their course amongst the clouds
The maiden sat, burdened by her sadness
Her singing could not have been more soothing
I moved closer to the young woman
Singing of her love sailing on the sea
Oh sweet was her sad lament
“My love is on the high seas”
The music enticed me
Nearer to the brown-haired warm eyed maiden
And she prayed to the King of Heaven
“Protect my love on the high seas”
Her heart was breaking with love
When I took her by the hand
“Wipe your eyes, your love is safe”
“I have returned to you from the high seas”
Several ancient Irish Annals that verify the Celtic ancestry of Somhairlidh (Somerled) are now available at the Internet site for the School of Celtic Studies Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
Gàidhlig (Gaelic) Documentation Clan Donald is Celtic