DASG Blog

Òrain, Bàrdachd agus Duanagan an A9 ann an Alba (Pàirt 2)

Welcome back to part two of “Òrain, Bàrdachd agus Duanagan an A9”! We shall continue further North from Inverroy to Drumochter. We will have a look at the area of Drumochter this week because there are many songs and waifs of folklore to be found in the area.

"Mo Nighean Dubh as Bòidheach Dubh" – Blair Atholl
This song was recorded in the area of Blair Atholl. The song can be read in the fantastic book “Tales from Highland Perthshire” by Lady Evelyn Stewart Murray –
“Mo nighean dubh is bòidheach dubh,
Mo nighean dubh na trèig mi,
Ged theireadh càch gu bheil thu dubh,
Cho geal ’s tha an gruth leam fhèin thu,
Mo nighean dubh is bòidheach dubh.
 
Moch latha-coinnle dhomh sa mhadainn,
Airtneulach ’s mi ag èirigh,
Gum facas òigh an taice rium,
’S a gnùis mar sneachd air gheugan.”

Òran Breugach Eile - Ruichlachrie
I have written about this song already in the blog “Òrain Breugach”, and it is a funny song. I sing it as a waulking song with the tune of “Gaol Ise, Gaol I” –
“Chunna mi na chunna mi
Nach fhaca duine mo sheòrst,
Chunna mi na feadagan
Len caibeachan uaine mòine.
Bha pìob mhòr air an fhitheach,
Fiodhull air an ròcais,
Targaid air a’ bhutagochd
’S musgaid air an smeòrach,
Claidheamh fiar air an dreathann,
’S e gu leathann còmhnard.”

“Crònan” by Mairearad Ghobha, wife to Dòmhnaill Ruaidh Ghobha, who was a farmer in Achinroy, close to Struan in Atholl -
“Fà-ill ile na ho rò,
A-ill o na hi ri ù,
Fà-ill ile na ho rù,
'S i mo rùn mo Ieanabhsa.

Baidh, baidh bà, mo ghràdh,
Meigeag bheag a chinnein bhàin,
Meigeag bheag a chiimein bhàin,
gur i annsach mamaidh i.

Chaidh na caoirich oirnn a stath,
Cha-n 'eil bainne ac no àl,
Ciod an comas th' air a ghràidh,
Ged thàinig call an Earraich oirnn.”

“Aoir Rodain” by Lachlann Mac a’ Phearsain, Tacksman of Strathmashie – Dalnacardoch
According to the story a hotel owner in Dunkeld, or Dalnacardoch, rebuked the “Strathmashie Bard”, and so the bard wished of the mice to eat every piece and thing of the house, so that nothing would be left for the owner –
“Is iomadh truaigh’ a tha cumail fodha
An tuathanaich is fheàrr air domhan;
Air meud a bhuana ’s a threabhadh,
’S lìonmhor tuarastail ’na dhèigh.
 
Òl, agus ceòl, agus fèill,
Baisteadh, is pòsadh, is eug,
Rìgh, agus eaglais, is lèigh,
’S mìle rud beag as a dhèigh.”

“Aoireadh, le Alasdair Catanach, an Saor Ruadh, anns a’ Chreagan, ’n uair bha e fuadach nan luch bho sabhal Bhiallaid” – Dalnaspidal
Although this song is set in a barn in Biallaid, to the South of Newtonmore, there is mention of Dalnaspidal, a farm in Drumochter where the famous bard, Dòmhnall Pàil Chaimbeul, was born. In the song the bard wants the rats to flee to the hotel in Dalnaspidal to get revenge on the big man who was unpleasant to him, or to Glen Trim or Dalwhinnie too –
"Ma ghabhas sibh mo c[h]omhairl' luchan!
Truisidh sibh oirbh 's bidh sinn falbh.
Ma thèid mise 'ga n-ur aoireadh,
Cha bhi aon agaibh gun chearb.
Cha'n 'eil cat eadar Ruathainn,
'S bràigh Chluainidh nach bi sealg.
'S ann an sabhal Sandy Bàn,
Gheàrr sibh an snàth as a' bhalg."

“Monadh Dubha Dhruim-Uachdair” – Drumochter
Sheep were freed unintentionally and they travelled far and wide in the mountains and the hidden nooks of Drumochter. A man went out to round them up but a blizzard came in and he perished in the cold –
“’S fhir nan sùl donna
Cha bu choma leam beò thu;
-
Tha mo chridhe chò ciùrrta,
’S nach giùlain e ’n còtan.”

We will carry on with part three next time. Do you know any of the tunes above? Do you have any other songs? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our website!