A classic Gaelic love song. Ken and Priscilla Laws taped it at a ceilidhe in Stornoway in the early 1960's, and I sang it since then without knowing what it meant. Finally, Doug Hunt from Boston found a printed source and gave me a rough translation. At least the singer has the goodness of heart to wish his love well at the end, but some things sure lose their glory in English. Gordon: Vocal and cellamba; whistle. Paul Schaffner: Hanunered dulcimer. Nick Apollonio: Fiddle.
Dh'fhalbh mo nighean chruinn, donn
Uam do'n Iuraidh.
Dh'fhalbh mo nighean chruinn, donn,
'Cneas mar eal' air barr thonn,
Och is och! mo nighean donn
'Dh'fhag mi-shunnd orm.
'S truagh nach robh mi 's mo ghaol
An gleann cubhraidh;
'S truagh nach robh mi 's mo ghaol
Ri uisg' ann 's ri gaoith
'S fo shileadh nan craobh
Bhiomaid sunndach.
Ged tha thusa an drasd'
An Gleann Iuraidh,
Ged tha thus' ann a' tamh
Tha t'aigne fo phramh;
Agus mise gun sta
Le do ghradh ciurrta.
Bheir mo shoraidh le gradh
Uam do'n Iuraidh,
Bheir mo shoraidh le gradh
Dh'fhios na h-oigh' rinn mo chradh;
'S o'n nach math leath' mar tha
Thai fein tursach.
MY BROWN-HAIRED MAIDEN
My beautiful brown-haired maiden
has gone from me to Iuraidh.
Gone like a swan on the crest of the wave.
Oh my brown-haired maiden,
my joy has left me.
A pity my love and I were not in the warm glen,
A pity we were not in the rain and the wind,
Under the raindrops from the trees
We would be contented.
But now it is you in the Glen Iuraidh,
You at rest and your affection sleeping,
And I, useless with your tarnished love.
But I will give my blessing, with love
From me to Iuraidh,
My blessing with love. Knowing it is not good
With her has made my anguish and self pity.