3.2. The Highland Connection (1979 Ridge Records) 3.2.1. Gamhna Gealla – White Sticks |
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3.2.1. Gamhna Gealla – White Sticks
S e mo ghradh na gamhna gealla
Hillean o ro bha ho
Theid do'n chro's nach ol am bainne
He ho ho ri i ri o
Hogi o hillean o ro bha ho
Theid do'n chro's nach ol am bainne
Hillean o ro bha ho
Theid a dh'Eirinn ris a ghealaich
He ho ho ri i ri o
Hogi o hillean o ro bha ho
Theid a dh'Eirinn ris a ghealaich
Hillean o ro bha ho
'S a thig as le aon seol mara
He ho ho ri i ri o
Hogi o hillean o ro bha ho
He ho ro ri i ri o
He ho ro ri i ri o
He ho ro ri i ri o
Hogi o ro bha ho
Bha MacCoinnichann's MacLeoid
Hillean o ro bha ho
'S Mac Mhic Alasdair o'n Chro
He ho ho ri i ri o
Hogi o hillean o ro bha ho
'S Mac Mhic Alasdair o'n Chro
Hillean o ro bha ho
'S Mac Ic Ailein nach eil beo
He ho ho ri i ri o
Hogi o hillean o ro bha ho
He ho ro ri i ri o
He ho ro ri i ri o
He ho ro ri i ri o
Hogi o ro bha ho
3-34
3.2.2. Mairi
Dorch an nochd tha'n t-Eilean
Dathan air am fuadach far nam beann
Tha faileas a'tuiteam bhon an Stor
Mar t-fhalt dorch a suabadh do cheann
Horo Mhairi o
Horo Mhairi o
Horo Mhairi o
'S mi 'gad ionndrain ho ro
De math an tobar gun an t-uisge
De math an corp gun cridh'
Nam biodh neart an Stoir 'nam lamhan
Bhiodh sinn le'r cheile's an Eilean a rithis
Horo Mhairi o
Horo Mhairi o
Horo Mhairi o
'S mi 'gad ionndrain ho ro
'S doch nach fhaigh sinn neamh no
beatha eile
Nuair a dhuineas suilean aig deireadh
lath
Ach fhuair mi mo neamh an seo's an aite
Far an d'thug thu dhimh do lamh's do
cridhe slan
Horo Mhairi o
Horo Mhairi o
Horo Mhairi o
'S mi 'gad ionndrain ho ro
There's a darkness on the Island of Skye
tonight
The colours are clearing away from the hills
A shadow is falling down from the Storr
Like your dark hair sweeping across your face
What use is the well without water
What use is the body without the heart
If I had the power of this landscape in my
hands
We'd be together again on the island
Maybe we will never find a heaven or any
other existence
When we finally close our eyes at the end of
our days
But I have found my heaven here in this place
Where you gave me your promise and your
full heart
Horo Mairi o
Horo Mairi o
Horo Mairi o
I miss you
3.2.3. What Time
3-35
3.2.4. Fichead Bliadhna – Twenty Years
Ruith's a mhonadh
Ruith nam beann
'S mar sin dhan sgoil aig deireadh
samhraidh
'Nar clann
Aig coig bliadhna dh'aois
'S gun facal beurla 'nar ceann
Seo do leabhar
Sea do pheann
"Dean do leasan," thuirt iad riumsa
" 'S gunn eirich sibh suas anns an tsaoghal
'S gheibh sibh an adhart ann
Fichead bliadhna'airson firinn
B'fheudar dhomh feitheamh
'S b'fheudar dhomh lorg
Fichead bliadhn' de bhreugan
Thug iad eachdraidh air falbh bhuainn
Dh'ionnsaich sinn a leithid ann
Canan's bardachd, bardachd Bheurla
Ceol na Gearmailt
Eachdraidh na Spainnt
'S b'e sin an eachdraidh mheallt
Bhon sgoil do'n oilthigh chaidh sinn ann
A' leantail foghlum, tuilleadh foghlum
Mar amadan air deiradh streang
Seorsa de dh'fhoghlum 'nam cheann
Fichead bliadhna'airson firinn
B'fheudar dhomh feitheamh
'S b'fheudar dhomh lorg
Fichead bliadhn' de bhreugan
Thug iad eachdraidh air falbh bhuainn
Ach dh'eirich mi suas anns an t-saoghal
Fhuair mi deise, 's fhuair mi leine
Fhuair mi aite ann an suilean dhaoin
Fada bhon mhonadh mi'n drasd
Carson a chum iad eadchraidh bhuainn
Innsidh mi dhut, tha iad gealltach
Mas eirich clann nan Gaidheal suas
Le ceistean sireach is cruaidh
Fichead bliadhna'airson firinn
B'fheudar dhomh feitheamh
'S b'fheudar dhomh lorg
Fichead bliadhn' de bhreugan
Thug iad eachdraidh air falbh bhuainn
Nuair a thoisich mi air lorg
Cha do chreid mi mo shuilean
Obair olc
3-36
Freedom of the moor
Freedom of the hill
And then to school at the end of summer
Children,
Five years of age,
Without many words of English
"Here is your book
Here is your pen”
Study hard that's what they told me
"And you will rise up in the world
You will achieve"
Twenty years for the truth
I had to wait
I had to search
Twenty years of deceit
They denied me knowledge of myself
I learned many things
The English language, the poetry of England
The music of Germany
The history of Spain
And even that was a misleading history
Then on to further education
Following education, more education
Like puppets on the end of a string
Our heads filled with a sort of learning
Twenty years for the truth
I had to wait
I had to search
Twenty years of deceit
They denied me knowledge of myself
And I did rise in the world
I found my suit, I found my shirt
I found a place in the eyes of men
Well away from the freedom of the moor
But why did they keep our history from us?
I'll tell you they are frightened
In case the children of Gaeldom awaken
With searching and penetrating questions
Twenty years for the truth
I had to wait
I had to search
Twenty years of deceit
They denied me knowledge of myself
3.2.5. Na Luing air Seoladh
3.2.6. Loch Lomond
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love spent many happy days
On the banks of Loch Lomond
Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep sides of Ben Lomond
Where in purple hue the Highland hills we view
And the moon glints out in the gloaming
You'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
Where wild flowers spring and the wee birdies sing
On the steep sides of Ben Lomond
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring
Though resigned we may be while we’re greetin
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
3-37
3.2.7. Na h-uain A's t-Earrach – The Lambs in Springtime
'S iomadh la a rinn sinn suidhe
Rinn sinn suidhe 's ghabh sinn smuaint
De math bhi suidhe fas nas aosd
'S laithean earraich a falbh bhuainn
Chur sinn ar canan na'r cridhe
Fhuair sinn aron's rinn sinn seinn
Thoir dhuinn lamh comhnaidh 'seinnibh
co'rinn
'S leith cheile togaidh sinne fonn
Og tha sinn og
Og na ar cridhe
Beatha na'r coinneamh
Coineal na'r laimh
'S an again tha neart
Is an again tha 'n corrum
Nar cridhe gu brath
Tha sinn og
og
Tha sibh mar na h-uain a's t-earrach
Suibhal 's a leam, tapaidh saor
Ach an fhacabh sibh na caoraich aosd'
Ni aon dhuibh gluasad's leanaidh 'n cor
Nuair bhios na bliadhnaichean 'dol bhuabh
Lathan deirdh lathan dorch
Cum do choneil an ard is laighste
'S coisich an saoghal le cridhe og
Og tha sinn og
Og na ar cridhe
Beatha na'r coinneamh
Coineal na'r laimh
'S an again tha neart
Is an again tha 'n corrum
Nar cridhe gu brath
Tha sinn og
og
Many's the time we sat down
We sat down and thought to ourselves
What is the point in sitting, growing older
The days of springtime disappearing from us
We put our language in our hearts
We found a song and sung it
Give us a helping hand, sing along with us
And together we can make things happen
You are like the lambs in springtime
Running around, jumping and carefree
But have you ever noticed the older sheep
When one moves they all follow
And when the years start departing from you
The difficult days, the darker days
Keep your candle aloft and lit
Walk this world with a young heart
Young, we are young, young in our hearts
Life ahead of us, a candle in our hands
We have the enthusiasm, we have the
opportunity
In your attitude forever, stay young, stay
young
3-38
3.2.8. Foghar nan Eilean '78 – Island Autumn
Tha na duilleagan a' dannsa
Bho na craobhan anns a' ghaoith
Foghar donn ar bliadhn' air tionndadh
Nis tha luchd an t-samhraidh ma sgaoil
Sona dh'fhag thu mi le m'eilean
4s leam na lochan is na baigh
Mo cridh' aig tamh air beanntab
geamhraidh
Nis tha luchd an t-samhraidh ma sgaoil
Foghar nan eilean
Foghar mu thuath
Gheibh sinn beatha mar a chleachd sinn
Mas tainig an t-sluagh
Bidh am fraoch air nam beanntan
'S a choille ruadh fon ghrian
'S iad a sealltain dathan dhomsa
Gus an till iad a rithis
Tha an latha seachad buintean duinnte
Gheibh an caisteal fois na h-oidhch'
Gheibh an t-airgead cadal socair
Nis tha luchd an t-samhraidh ma sgaoil
Mar a dh'atharraich iad ar beoshlaint
Mhill iad dualchas cainnt 's ru doigh
Ach fhoghair, crathaidh mi do lamh
Nis tha luchd an t-samhraidh ma sgaoil
Foghar nan eilean
Foghar mu thuath
Gheibh sinn beatha mar a chleachd sinn
Mas tainig an t-sluagh
Bidh am fraoch air nam beanntan
'S a choille ruadh fon ghrian
'S iad a sealltain dathan dhomsa
Gus an till iad a rithis
The leaves are dancing
From the trees in the wind
The browns of autumn are turning our year
around
Now that the summer visitors have gone
Content is the way you left me to my island
The lochs and the bays are all mine
My heart rests easy on the winter hills
Now that the summer visitors have gone
The day is over, the shops have closed
The castle will get a night's peace
Money will get some respite
Now that the summer visitors have gone
They changed our means of livelihood
They altered our language and way of life
But autumn, I can only welcome you
Now that the summer visitors are gone
Island autumn
Northern autumn
We can live a little like we used to
Before the crowds came
The heather on the hills
And the sunlit forests
Will reveal their colours for us
Until they return again
3.2.9. The Twenty Five Pounder
3-39
3.2.10. Going Home
In the distant day was dawning
Comes to me the early morning
Something tells me that I’m going home
The brand new sun shines bright
From the darkness fields of light
Something tells me that I’m going home
Going home
Where the summers coming in
And the moonlight on the river
Shows me where I’ve been
Soft the rain gently falling
Lightly ‘cross the city morning
I get the feeling that I’m going home
Across the moorland, past the mountains
O’er the rivers beside the new stream
Something tells me that I’m going home
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
As the trains rolling nearer
Ah, the feeling just to be there,
Something tells me that I’m going home
Now the skylines reach my eyes
The ridge stands out in highland skies
I just can’t believe I’m going home
Going home
3-40
3.2.11. Morning Tide
I'm standing here
In a long row
Farewells
And a future hanging low
Waving out
In the morning grey
A burning heart
That keeps tearing me away
Morning tide
Morning tide
You're taking me
For all my life
Morning tide
Morning tide
You're sailing me away
Precious
Morning still
My wealth falls in
All around the island hills
Dying out
Across the bay
The pier runs out
And the Minch waves roll
Away
(Chorus)
I'm standing here
In a long row
Farewells
And a future hanging low
Waving out
In the morning grey
A burning heart
That keeps tearing me
Away
3-41
3.2.12. Cearcal a Chuain – The Ocean´s Cycle
Tha sinn uile air cuan
Stiureadh cuairt troimh ar beatha
A' seoladh geola dhorch
Air chall an greim na mara
Tha a'ghaoth air ar cul
Tha a' gheol a' cumail roimhe
'S cha dean uair no an cuan
Tonaisgh dhuinn no rian
A' mhuir tha i ciuin
Tha i fiadhaich tha i farsainn
Tha i alainn tha i diamhair
Tha i gamhlasach is domhain
O ach sin tha sinn dall
'S chaneil againn ach beatha
Tog an seol, tog an ramh
Gus an fhaigh sinn astar ann
Ach tha mi'n duil, tha mi'n duil
Nuair a bhios a' ghrian dol fodha
Chi iad mi a' stiuireadh 'n iar
Null a dh'Uibhist air a' chearcal
Cearcal a' chuain
Gu brath bidh i a' tionndadh
Leam gu machair geal an lar
Far an do thoisich an la
We are all on an ocean
Steering a course through life
Sailing a dark vessel
Lost in the grasp of the ocean
The wind is astern
The boat forging ahead
And time and the sea
Makes no sense to us at all
The sea is calm
It is wild, it is vast
It is beautiful, it is mysterious
It is vengeful and deep
O, but we, are blind
and all we have is life
Raise the sail, lift the oars
Til we get up speed
I intend, I do intend
when the sun is sinking down
To be seen steering a westerly course
On the ocean's cycle to Uist
O the ocean's cycle
Forever I'll be turning
To take me back to the pole machair in the
west
Where the day has dawned