DASG Blog

Òrain 'Macaronach' na Gàidhlig

“How are sibh today?” “Are you ceart gu leòr?” Here are two explanations of “Macaronic” language that is common today. If you have a “Macaronic” verse that means that it is written in two or more languages. It was very common in romance languages of Europe but the fashion and style has been spread to every corner of the globe. We will have a look at some verses and songs that are written or made with more than just Gaelic alone.
 
There are three examples of macaronic verses already in Scottish Gaelic; “Ciad Turas MhicDhòmhnaill a Ghlaschu”, by William Marshall, “The Girl from Cromar”, by Murdani “Mast” Kennedy, “Tha Sgeul Ùr 'san Tìr”, and “Bàl Ghlinntruim” by Donald Campbell, son of Donald Campbell (Dòmhnall Phàil, Bàrd Ceann a' Ghiuthasaich).

In “Ciad Turas MhicDhòmhnaill a Ghlaschu” the balance between Gaelic and English is very level and “balanced”, therefore I would say that it is an exceptional example of macaronic verse:
“When I came to Glasgow first, a-mach gu Tìr nan Gall,
I was like a man adrift, air iomrall ’s dol air chall;
The noise it seemed like thunder, chuir e tuainealaich nam cheann,
An often-times I wished I was air ais an tìr nam beann.”
 
In “The Girl from Cromor” tha form is very similar, with whole sentences in English and the odd word in Gaelic. This is clear in the first verse:
“Once I had a girl that came from Cromor
She was a school-teacher with airgead gu leòr
She was a darling like Marilyn Monroe
But she gave me the bachall to come back no more.”

The majority of words are in Gaelic in the song “Tha Sgeul Ùr 'san Tìr” in “Verse, Fragments, Etc., From Various Districts” by Hugh Barron:
“Tha Sgeul Ùr 'san Tìr,
Fhuair na sìdhichean bicycles
'S cha ghabh e innse
Cho grinn 's a races iad,
Le sgiort dh' an t-sìod'
Agus blouse a ghrìogagan
'S èididh-cinn ac'
Bho thìr na h-Eadailte.”

The balance between the languages in "Bàl Ghlinntruim" (the version I got in "Verse, Story and Fragments from Various Districts", by Hugh Barron in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness) is very level in almost every line:
"Yesterday evening 's feasgar an raoir,
We marched away to Bàl Ghlinntruim
We could not get lasses cha rachadh iad leinn
And going without them bu mhuladach sinn."

Outside Scotland macaronic poetry and songs are more common. In Ireland they are much more common. There is a great record on the singer Seosamh Heaney’s Website. We shall have a look at a couple of this style of song, looking at the macaronic songs “Siúil, a Rúin”, “One Morning in June” agus “One Day for Recreation”.
In “Siúil, a Rúin” tha song is from a woman lamenting for her sweetheart that is in the army to fight against the French. She wants him to return safe he wishes to elope with her so they can marry. This verse is taking from one of the them as an example to you:
“Now my love has gone to France
To seek his fortune in advance
If ever he returns, it’s only a chance
Is gu bhfille tú, a mhúirnín bán, slán.”

In “One Morning in June” each sentence after one another changes language, and this is very clear in the first verse:
“One morning in June, agus mé ag dul ag spaisteoireacht
Casadh liom cailín, ba ro-dheas a gnaoi
She was so handsome, gur thir mé in grá léi
Is d’fhága sí arraing i gceartlar mo chroí.
I asked her her name, nó cad é an ruaig bheannaithe
Chas ins an áit thú, a ghrá ghil mo chroi?
My heart it will break if you don’t come along with me
Slán is beannacht le buaireadh an tsaoil.”

In the song “One Day for Recreation” the balance between Gaelic and English is just as level:
“One day for recreation is gan éinne beo ‘mo chuideachta,
I spied a charming fair maid ina haonar is i siopa istaigh.
She was singing like an angel is mé ag éisteacht lena binne-ghuth;
Anonn is anall, a Mháirin, do mhálaí is do bheilteanna
Sí bean na stocaí bána ba bhreá liom ag iomaidh leat.”

It is the same thing with “Bidí Ní Mhaoldúin”, a song from Armagh:
“I cast my eye on this charming fair maidean,
Is bhi mé dhá teannadh anonn le mo chroí,
Orú éist is a stór if you go wit' anyone,
Leave your mammy and come wit' me.”

I found the song here, “As I Was Walking” in the book “Caointe agus Seancheolta eile”, by Breandan Ó Madagáin, but it is on TG4’s ... as well. In the song an Irish man has joined the English army and he was sent to Newfoundland for his post. It is clear that the duties of his work, and his fellow soldiers, has affected his Gaelic and that is prescented in his verses:
“As I was walking one evening fair
Is mé go déanach i mBaile Sheáin
I met a gang of English blades
Is iad á dtraochadh ag a namhaid
I sang and drank so free and airy
With all those courageous men of war
Cé go mb’fearr liom Sasanaigh ag rith le fóreigean
Is gur iad Clanna Gael bocht a bhuaidh an lá.”

I am an dòchas that you have enjoyed every chanson, regardless just how gorgeous or mooi they were ici for you. If you have a macaronic song that we haven’t mentioned here please let know with some fiosrachadh or informazione on facebook, twitter and our own website!