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This is a traditional Scottish song translated to Irish by John Walsh/Symphonic Music Publishing (IMRO) and appears in the new Eir ad, formally Eircom.
It’s a piece of mouth music originating from the Isle of Barra in the outer Hebrides, Scotland, credited to Calum Johnston of Barra. Irish musician Mícheál Ó Domhnaill from The Bothy Band collected this song from Calum Johnston.
Here’s the text as sung by Barra singer the late Calum Johnston on the School of Scottish Studies “Scottish Tradition” recording- more than likely the source used by the Bothy Band way back when. All but the last line of the refrain consists of nonsense vocables based on the system known as “canntaireachd” that was developed in the highlands for the teaching of bagpiping. Calum Johnston himself was a wonderful piper.
Here’s the text as sung by Barra singer the late Calum Johnston on the School of Scottish Studies “Scottish Tradition” recording- more than likely the source used by the Bothy Band way back when.
All but the last line of the refrain consists of nonsense vocables based on the system known as “canntaireachd” that was developed in the highlands for the teaching of bagpiping. Calum Johnston himself was a wonderful piper.
Dúirt an gabha “fanfaidh mé” ‘S dúirt an gabha “fágfaidh mé” ‘S dúirt an gabha leis an mearbhall A bhí air ag doras an sciobóil Go rachadh sé ag cúirtéireacht
‘S’é oileán na mbothán, na mbothán ‘Oileán na mbothán, na mbothán Oileán na mbothán, na mbothán An bothán a bhí ag Fionnghuala ‘S’é oileán na mbothán, na mbothán ‘Oileán na mbothán, na mbothán Oileán na mbothán, na mbothán An bothán a bhí ag Fionnghuala
Bhéarfainn preab as éin mara Bhéarfainn preab as éisc mara Ainmhithe beaga na mara Thabharfadh sé tamall an tarraing Má mhaireann na línte dúinn
Cha tada againne anseo Cha tada againne anseo Cha tada againne anseo Thabharfadh sé tamall an tarraing Má mhaireann na línte dúinn
The blacksmith said, "I'll wait" The blacksmith said, "I'll go" The blacksmith said, in his confusion Standing at the door of the barn That he was going to go courting
Island of bothies, of bothies Island of bothies, of bothies Island of bothies, of bothies Fingal's bothies Island of bothies, of bothies Island of bothies, of bothies Island of bothies, of bothies Fingal's bothies
I'd knock spots off the birds I'd knock spots off the hakes Little lythes of the sea We would take a while hauling them in If our hand lines last
We got nothing here We got nothing here We got nothing here We would take a while hauling them in If our hand lines last
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