Marbhrann do Dhomhnall Deòiraidh
Lament to Donald Dewar
1.
Bha mi-fhìn nam shuidhe, I went to take my seat,
ri taobh
siar na h-aibhne. by the west of the river.
Dh'fhàs m'intinn
trom 's muladach. My thoughts grew heavy and sad.
2.
O'n chuala mi 'n naigheachd, since I got the news,
as ùr an ar rìoghaltachd.
most recent in our Kingdom.
Dh'fhalbh leòmhann as mótha ar dùthcha.
The greatest lion of our country has left us.
3.
Bu Tu gaisgeach ar daoine, You were the champion of our people,
ris
an cainnte Donald Dewar. the one they called Donald Dewar.
'S mo chreach
rinn an t-eug thug farraid ort. My woe! how death has come for you.
4.
O'n dh'eug Deòiraidh as àirde, Since the highest
custodian/pilgrim has died,
fìor gheug onorach; S' gun oighre,
true honourable branch; without an heir,
co ghabhadh do dh'àit'
o'n dh'fhalbh thu? who will take your place since you have gone?
5.
Fear a thogadh ar Rìoghachd, The man who would have raised
our government,
a dh'fhosgail geataibh ar slighe, who opened our gateway,
B'fhèarr leam fhìn
gliocas do bhriathairean. I preferred the wisdom of your words.
6.
Tha cuimhn'am air d'fhaclan, I remembered your sayings,
air La Pàrlamaid
Albain, on the day of the Scots Parliament,
le Bana-rìgh Ealasaid
air do bheulaibh. with Queen Elizabeth before
you.
7.
Ghlaoidh té eile gu gleusd' ann, Another exclaimed; tunefully,
cleverly,
duan fhir do leithid; fìor-ghlan, a poem of a man
of your likes; straight-pure,
gu laoidheach 's gu freagarrach nar
tim. exhortingly, appropriately in our time.
8.
Bhuain air ais thu gach dligheadh, You won back each right,
a ghoid
Pàrlamaid Shassuinn; da-rìreadh, that the
English parliament stole; indeed,
le ceartas a'lagha 's an t-shluaigh.
by the right of the law and the people.
9.
Bha thu nad sheasadh air d'aonar, You would have taken your
stand lonely,
s'ann àit' 'm-measg gach treun-fhear, in the
midst of the valliant ones,
's gun bhean glé theann air do chùl.
without a wife close by your back.
10.
Bu Tu fear comhearsnail coibhneil, Neighbourly, kind man were
you,
a-measg nan luchd cumanta, amongst the common folk,
ann an Glaschu
nan sluagh cridheil còir. in Glasgow of
the hearty kind ones.
11.
Cha b'ann faoin no leisg thu, It was not vain or lazy you were,
le
na daoin' bochd' nar measg thu. with each poor person in our midst.
B'ann
bàidheil air do laimh dheis a bha thu. Merciful!
with your right hand, you were.
12.
B'e 'm fìor toiseach na h-Alba thu, True leader of Scotland
were you,
o'n dh'fhosgail Taigh ùr na Baile thu, since you
opened the new house of the town,
ann an Duneidinn na h-eachdraidh
as uais'. in Edinburgh of the history most noble.
13.
Dh'fhalbh fìor Albanach bhuainn. A true Scotsman has
left us.
C'àit' am faigh sinn duin' úr dhuinn, Where
shall we find a new man for us,
le nàdur as uaisle, nas dhìleise?
with a nature more noble, more loyal?
14.
Air am bròn bhliadhna dà mhìle, On the
sorrowful year of two thousand,
chail sinn ùrròs ar
cinne. We have lost the fragrant rose of our kindred
Chuirinn bad
giuthais air bruaich do lice let me place, on
the brow of your grave, a wreath of pine
Copyright -Pparaig MacNeil, 8 Charles Street, Dunblane, Perthshire
FK15 9BY October, 2000
Oran do Shine (Song to Jean) (fonn: Ba Ba Ba mo Leanabh) Le Paraig
MacNeil
Chorus
O hu o hu Shine
O hu Sine Bhan
O hu o hu o hu Shine
Cumaibh suas do brat
1.
Fàilt' a-rithist gu tir do chridhsa
S'do chasan bheanacht' fhaoilt
Nach b'ait' leat a bhith aig tàmh do dhrimsa
Na'n talamhan thar an t-saoghail
2.
Bho Ghleanna Sratha' gu na Mór Locha
Ceum nan Deòir again
Garbh rathad gallach mi-ghaolach
ar treubhan ri threòraicheadh
3.
Ged that soillier do reul a'dearrsadh
anns an t-èarra gharbh
S'ann'n aite coilteach, gleannach, beannach,
nach b'fhèarr thu 'bhith gu bràth.
4.
Freumh do dhilse de Clann Ghriogair.
Fianna fialach sàr.
Treun-fhir rìamhaich a'sheasadh gun eagal.
Sliochd nan rìoghalach
5.
Bhean na catharaich chàirdeil choimhneil
Siochainnt mu do chas;
Chuirinn slàint' air bàrr do gloine,
Gus an téid thu fhéin air ais.
6.
Beannachd Dhé ort air do thilleadh,
Thar an t-sàile bhrist'.
Greas ort air ais gu tir do chinneadh,
Far'm faigh thu'n craic a-rithist
Seist a-rithist, a cheud rann a-rithist agus seist mu deireidh a h-uile ri-cheile:
O hu O Chloinn' Ghriogair
O Chloinn' Ghriogair ha
O hu o hu o Chomain Chloinn' Ghriogair
Cumaibh suas ur brat
Tune - Ba ba ba my child - old Clan Gregor lullaby
Translation
Chorus: O hu o hu Jean
O hu Fair Jean
O hu o hu o hu Jean
Keep up your Mantle (or flag)
1.
Welcome again to the land of your heart
Your feet blessed and welcomed
Do you not wish to be at the rest of your race
Than at the earth on the other side of the world
2.
From Glenstrae to the Great Lakes
The trail of our tears
Rough road strange, unloving.
Our valiant kindred were lead.
3.
Although bright is your star that shines
In the rough frontier
In the place of woods, glens, bens,
Would you not prefer to be for ever
4.
The root of my loyalty is with Clan Gregor
Finglians, hospitable, excellent;
Brave men, beautiful that would stand without fear:
The seed of the loyal ones
5.
Chairwoman, friendly, kindly
Peace where you trod
Let me put a toast on the tip of your glass
Until you go back
6.
The blessings of God upon you on your return
Over the broken sea
Do hurry back to the land of your kindred
Where you will find hearty camradre again.
Chorus between each verse, first verse
again at the end, chorus and then the final chorus
Final Chourus:
O hu o Clan Gregor
O Clan Gregor yes
O o hu o Clan Gregor Society
Keep up your mantle (or flag)
For footnotes to accompany this song, click
here
Copyright: Paraig MacNeil, 8 Charles Street, Dunblane, Perthshire
FK15 9BY, Scotland Friday 10th August, 2001 Cumha Chaisteal Ghriogair - Lament for Castle
Gregor (Lanrick)
Le Paraig MacNeil – Bard/Seanchaidh Urramach Comann Chloinn’ Griogair-
1.
Ochòinn a’Righ; seall glòir do chrùin
Woe
is me; look at the glory of your crown
A’ Leòghainn ‘S do cheann air bàrr a’chroinn
Oh
Lyon; your head at the point of the tree
‘S bu mhór do chòir
a bhith ann ged a thuit iad thu
Great would have been your right to
be here although they have felled you.
2.
‘ S truagh nach robh mi nam bhàrd
It
was a pity that I was not a bard (composing)
o’n a dh’eirich mi moch Madainn Mhàirt
since
I arose early on a March morning
dh’fheuch am faicainn
do chlachan ghlasa far an laighe thu
endeavouring to see your stones,
grey, where you lie.
3.
Thuit mo chridhe gu an làr
My heart fell to the ground
Far an robh mi aig an àm
where I was at the time
Ged a bha mi ‘measg tìr an crannsa ‘s brèagha
although
I was in the midst the land of the trees! most beautiful.
4.
‘ S do bhallan sgrioste is gach cùil
And your walls
destroyed and each neuk
‘ S do thalla bhriste ‘S gun fuaim do chiùil
And
your hall broken without the sound of your music
O’ Chaisteil Ghriogair anns a’choille;
co bhualadh thu?
O Castle of Gregor in the woods; who would have struck
you?
5.
Nach robh iad eòlach mu do chliù?
Were not they not
knowlegable regarding your renown?
A sgoilt’ do dh’eachdraidh
a reir nan duan
who shattered your history according to the praise
poem
Gallaich; droch mhèirlich a’seann dun do dhualchais
strangers;
wicked vandals of the old fort of your heritage
6.
Nach do thuig iad cluain a’bhlàir
Did they not understand
the echo of the battlefield?
no gaoir do phìoba no mùirn an dàin
or the cry
of your pipes or the joy of the ode.
A thoga’ na fir le fuaim na clàrsaich
bu bhinne ann
that would have lifted the men with sound of the harp
sweet.
7.
Nach do smaoin’ iad air an ùin ‘
Didn ’t
they consider the time
Nuair bha gach saoidh ,’s bean-uasail
ann
when each brave-heart and noble lady
a dhannsa’ gu chruinn air an t-ùrlar
gu sgiobalta
would go a dancing neatly trim around the floor
8.
‘ s na h-uais’ aig chairdean a’ ghiomairt
ann
And the noble hearts gaming with cards
‘ s a’chluichadh
iad le comhrom nam Fiann’
And playing they would with the fair-play
of Finglians
‘ s a chuir slàinte le fionn
fhraingach gu chairdeal ann
And put a toast with French wine heartily
there
9.
Chuimhnich mu na Greumaich sean
Remember ! the Grahams of old
Cruithinich cliùteach nam fainneachan
Picts of renown of the
rings
Teathaich; ‘s Tighearnaichean’s cìobairean
do dhùthcha
Native Menteiths; Lairds and shepherds of your
patrimony
10.
Sliochd Haldane rìoghalaich fialach
And Haldanes loyal; hospitable
Seumasaich riamhaich gun eagal
Jacobites; beautiful without fear
Luchd armach o’ freimh a’ ghleanna
na h-eaglaise
Folk of risings whose root was that of Glen Eagles
11.
Ceann-cinneachan nan Griogairach
Chiefs of MacGregors
Sìol Ailpin man feachd breacanach
Seed of Alpine, of the armies
tartan plaided
Clann a chèo nan geur-lann liath-gorm Spàinneach
Children
of the mist of the sharp grey/blue Spanninsh blades
11.
C’ait’ an dh’fhalbh thu ; teach mo rùin
?
Where have you gone O’ dwelling-place
of my beloved
taigh as
aille a-measg nan giuthas
House most splendid amongst the pines
chan fhaic mi a-rithist àird nan tùraibh
as uaisle ann
I will never see again the heights of your towers most
noble.
12.
Co bhuala’ ‘n tuagh air do thaobh?
Who would have struck
the axe on your side?
ach sìol nan cuilein gum bhàidh
no ghaol
but the seed of the curs without mercy or love
‘ B’e
an t-seibhis dubh do Mhamon ann a thugadh thu
It was the black service
to Mamon! that took you
For footnotes click here Cumha Chaisteal Ghriogair – Copyright –Paraig MacNeil,
8 Charles Street, Dunblane, Perthshire Scotland FK15 9BY, /March,
2002
Marbhrann do'n t-Ailpineach - 2003
Lament to Sir Gregor MacGregor of MacGregor, 23rd Chief of Clan
Gregor
B'ann san t-eilean
chraobhach It was in the island woody,
fheurach, ghaothach, grassy, windy,
chreagach, ghaoireach,
rocky, eerie
chleiteach, Laomaineach cliffy,
of Lomond
a' thuit mo smaointean trom that
my thoughts fell heavly
Nuair bha bualadh, When the
striking
a'chluig fhuaimeil, of the resounding
bell
a'ruighinn mo chluasan was reaching
my ears,
fhuair mi 'n nuaidheachd, I got the
news,
gum bheil thu san uaigh fo'n fhòid.
that you were interred under the ground
Ghabh mi caoineadh I took a keening,
nach b' aotrom, that was not light,
ach mar an taomadh, but like the pouring
gust,
thar a'chaolais over the narrows,
le guth mar chaoidh fo bhròn
with a voice like a cry under sorrow.
Do'n ghaisgeach ar gaoil To our beloved
warrior
gu saighdear nach faoin, to a soldier
not vain
bàrraibh nan craobh, Uppermost
of the trees
na laigh' air a thaobh on his side
S'e giuthas na raoin nach beò The
pine of the up-field laying lifeless
Bu Tu deagh Ghriogarach, You were a
goodly MacGregor
air ceum do shinnsirean, on the path
your ancestors
a-measg ceann-cinneachean, in the midst
of the chiefs
o' fhreumh shìol Ailpin of the
root of the seed of Alpin
Bu dualach' s fhìor do chòir
as would be your hereditary and pure right
Is na h-uile fuaran Every spring,
luath gun truailleadh impetuous, unsullied,
ruith mu d'ghuaillibh streamed about
your shoulders
dhen fhuil uaibhreach of proud blood
Bu Tu as uaisle pòr You of most
noble descent.
B'e do chàirdean a'bh'ann: Your
kindred of old were:
Mac an Aba nan gleann, Macnab of the
glens,
's Granndach nan sonn, and Grant of
the champions
's laoich a Tìr nam Beann and
heroes from Mull (and Ulva) (poetically)*
's MacDhùghaill is Clann Domhnaill and
MacDougal and Clan Donald
'S Rìoghail do threumh, Royal
is Your family !
's Linnichean Féinn' and generations
of the Finglians
's Finnichean treun' and brave clans
a dhìlse fo'n grein most loyal
under the sun
Nuair bhual iad beum 'sa cheò
when they would strike a blow in the mist
Ceannard giobach High commander; active;
deas gun ghiorrag ready, without panic
Fear nach tilleadh a man who would not
retreat
's tèoiraiche spioradailt and
a spirited leader
nuair ghluais thu ri d' fhir sa ghleòis
when you advanced with your men in the action
Leòmhann arm-eineach War-like
Lion!
teòma; nàimhideach Skillfull
,hostile
nuair a bheòthaich d' fhearg -
when your anger kindled
mar neòdean nam beathraichean
like the wounds of the thunderbolts
bha luchd droch-bheart fo leòn
the evil doers were dealt damage.
Sealgair nan sian Hunter of the elements
seabhag nan righean Falcon of the sheiling
sloplets.
nan earb's nam fiadh of the roe and
of the deer
Bu Tu cealgair nan iasg You were the
outwitter of the fish
air bruaich dubh-chiar' fo sgleò on
the black/brown embankment under vapour mist
'S breacan an fhéile The tartan
of the kilt (plaid)
air deagh fhear na féile on the
excellent host of hospitallity
nuair bheir thu an céilidh when
you upheld the ceilidh
s' an fheasgair an déigh sin
in the eve after that (the hunt)
's ' ur pìob aig meud a ceòl
and your pipes at the height of its music
S'oil leam càradh I am concerned for the situation
do chéile mnatha of your spouse
nad dhéigh; làn amhghair;
after you; full of sorrow
bean an Ailpinich àillidh resplendent
wife of MacGregor of MacGregor
bean-uais's bàrr do ghlòir
Noble lady; and the apex of your glory.
'Se Sir Calum; treun-fhear; And Sir Malcolm: valliant one;
S' mac ag éiridh, The son who
will rise,
nad'àite làn bheusan to
your place, full of virtue
mar 'm bratach beirte le like the banner
borne by
Clann Mhuirich fhéin, nan sròl
Clan Vurrich themselves of the silken ensigns
Beirinn mu'n cuairt Let us bear round,
an treas uair the third time,
do' n eilean uain' to the green isle,
far sgeulachd mo bhruadair from whence
the story, of my dream,
gu saor na shiubhail o'n tòs
wondered freely, in the beginning.
* ie: the MacKinnons and the MacQuarries.
Copyright: Marbhrann do'n t-Ailpeineach
- Lament to Sir Gregor MacGregor of MacGregor 23rd Chief of Clan
Gregor 2003 to:
Paraig MacNeil.
Tel: 01786 824563
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