DASG Blog

Òrain na Dùthcha bho Ghlaschu dhan Eilean Sgitheanach (Pàirt 1)

Happy New Year! I am hoping you all had a happy new year. I know that some of you would have been back in the Highlands for Hogmanay, travelling north from the Lowlands, going through many beautiful areas of the Highlands. But when I go through these areas my thoughts will be on the folklore and heritage of the areas, the songs specifically, therefore I started on a collection of songs of the districts up until the Isle of Skye, as I did with the blogs “Òrain, Bàrdachd agus Duanagan an A9 ann an Alba”, starting in Glasgow:

“Òran do Ghlaschu”, by Iain Mac a’ Phearsain, from Morvern – Glasgow
It is in the heart of Glasgow that we shall start. Like many people in the large towns we have an interest and longing to see our country, as is clear in this song:

“’S mi seo an Glaschu nam Bùithean far eil fasain is ioghnaidh gu leòr;
Leis na chunnaic mo shùilean, tha mo chridhe air dùsgadh gu ceòl;
Sluagh mar sheangain gun àireamh, ruith gach rathad sna sràidean nan deann,
A-measg toit is droch fhàileadh, ’s pailteas fearainn dol fàs feadh nan gleann...”
 
“Ciad Turas MhicDhòmhnaill a Ghlaschu”, by Uilleam Marshall, Clydeside and the Isle of Skye – Clydeside/Broomielaw
Marshall received shelter and upringing in the Isle of Skye at the time of the Second World war, although he is from Clydeside, where he learned Gaelic. The years in the Highlands had a great impact on him and the bard must have been delirious when he returned to the Lowlands. This is a mirthful song but the story is true to many Gaels that came to the Lowlands, without much english, from the centuries past:

“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,
And often-times I wished I was air ais an tìr nam beann...”
 
Is Saor do Leannan, a Leamhain”, by Muireadhach Albannach Ó Dálaigh – Alexandria
This is a song of praise created for Alùn, Earl of Lennox, praising the closeness of the earl to the land to which he belongs, praising him and the river itself. They are so close that they can’t be severed between the earl and the land because they are almost the same in hertitage to one another. More can be read of it in “Bho Chluaidh gu Calasraid”, p.40, by Michael Newton:

"Is saor do leannan, a Leamhain –
Alùn òg mac Mhuireadhaich,
A chùil dhruimneach gun duibhe,
Ogha Lughaidh à Liathmhuine.
 
Is math do rath, gillean geala,
On a chàraidich thu a’ chiad fhear:
Mac Rìgh Bhealaich don robh an dàn
Gum b’ e Leamhain a leannan..."

"Òran le Iain Mac an Fhucadair, Camustradden" by Iain MacAnFhùcadair – Glen Luss
The bard was from Camustradden, on the outskirts of Luss. He was a farmer all his life in Lennox, following closely to the renown of his ancestors. Despite the desertion of the glens with the de-gaelicisation of the area there was a strong connection to the land and that is clear in the poem, advising us:

“’S Mi ’m shuidhe ann am chrùban,
Ann am bothan udluidh fuar;
Gu'n duine ann a nì sugradh rium,
No dh’òlas drù a cuaich.
Chaidh Iain bàn air farsan uam,
'S cha'n fhan e' n dail mo sgeith;
'Seo cairdeach Gille-Padruig dhomh,
Gu'n dh'fhàg e mi leam fèin.

Bithidh bruic, is cait, is mairteanan ;
A garraich feadh nan tom;
'S bha uair a chluinnte uruiscean
Ri buirich san Eas-chrom.
Gu’n fhasgadh no gun fhàrdach aca,
Ach scarnach, no bun craoibh ;
lad fèin sa bhean 's na pàistean aca,
’S iad lom-rùisgte ris a ghaoith...”
 
“Òran Molaidh do MhacPhàrlain an Arair” – Arrochar
This praise-song was written by the “Lomond Bard”, praising “the great song of Duncan”, who was leader of Clan MacFarlane, and his strength, boldness and generosity to bards. More can be read of it in “Bho Chluaidh gu Calasraid”, p.166, by Michael Newton:
MhicPhàrlain an Arair
Làmh àghmhor an einich,
Fhir as fial ri h-ealaibh,
Bidh tu riar’ gach filidh.
 
Mhic fhìor-ghlic fhearamhail
Leis an dìolar sgolaibh;
Laoich chruaidh’ nach crìon aithne
Nì nas buaine d’ onair...“
 
“Tha mi ‘m Bothan am Ònrachd/Òran na h-Àirigh” – Inverarnan
A song that was created about the time of arrests of clan MacGregor and when it was made illegal to be a MacGregor. A lady gave hospitality to a group of MacGregors, without knowing that the Campbells were on their tail. The pursuers coudln’t catch them because she gave warning to the MacGregors about their arrival and so they took to the hills. It was called “Òran Chlann Ghiogair”. More can be read of it in “Bho Chluaidh gu Calasraid”, p.186, by Michael Newton.
“Tha mi ‘m bothan am ònrachd
’S mi air còmhnard an rathad,
 
Dh’fheuch am faic mi fear fuadain
Tighinn bho Chruachan a’ cheathaich;
 
No bheil sgeul air Cloinn Ghriogair
No bheil fios cia ’n taobh a ghabh iad.
 
Ach chan fhaca mi fhìn iad
’S cha bhi mi gam brath dhut...”
 
“Mo Nighean Donn nam Meall-shùilean” – Gleann Falach
A love song that comes from Glen Falach, without much information about its creator nor author:
“Mo nighean donn nam meall-shùilean
Gur òg thug mi mo ghealladh dhut
Nam faighinn thu le òrdugh clèir
Chan iarrainn sprèidh no fearann leat
Mo nighean donn nam meal-shùilean.
...
Chuir iad a Ghleann Falaich mi
Far nach cluinn mo leannan mi
Far nach cluinn mi guth mo rùin
A' tigh'nn bho chùl nam bealaichean
Mo nighean donn nam meal-shùilean...”
 
“Clann Griogair air Fògradh/Gura Mise Tha Gu Brònach” – Na Sraithibh, Uachdar-tìr
This is almost the same song as” Òran Chlann Ghriogair” above. The words are a little bit different but it is just as poignant and broad in its essence:
“Is mi suidhe an seo am ònar
Air còmhnard an rathaid

Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear-fuadain
Tighinn o Chruachan a' cheathaich

A bheir dhomh sgeul air Clann Ghriogair
No fios cia an do ghabh iad.

Cha d' fhuair mi dan sgeulaibh
Ach iad bhith 'n-dè air na Sraithibh...”
 
“Taigh an Droma”, a Mull Drover – Tyndrum
A country-song after he stayed in Tyndrum and he trip was truly awful. It was his wish to return to Mull when he is finished with droving. More can be read of it in the book “Tales of Highland Perthshire” by Lady Evelyn Stewart Murray:
“O is tu, gura tu air m’ aire
O is tu, gura tu air m’ aire
’S i mo dhùrachd tha tighinn fa-near dhomh
An t-Eilean Muileach as lùraiche beannach.
 
Mo mhìle mhallachd cha dèan mi àicheadh
Gu Taigh an Droma cha ghuidh mi slàinte
Fhuair mi feòil ann ’s cha gheàrradh sàbh
’S cha drùdhadh m’ fhiacail aon mìr don chàis’ ann...”
 
“Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain”, by Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir – Glenorchy
A sublime piece of Scottis poetry by the famous bard, praising the mighty ben and the nature encompassing, covering and coming from it. In the form of a Pibroch the bard shows both the supreme capablilites of the bard in the poetic language of he Gael and the vivacity and mettle of the animals that live on her slopes:
“An t-urram thar gach beinn aig Beinn Dòbhrain;
Na chunnaic mi fon ghrèin 's i bu bhòidhche leam;
Monadh fada rèidh, cùil am faighteadh fèidh,
Soilleireachd an t-slèibh bha mi sònrachadh.

Doireachan nan geug, coille anns am bi feur;
'S foineasach an sprèidh bhios a' còmhnaidh ann.
Greidhean bu gheal cèir, faghaid air an dèidh;
'S laghach leam an treud a bha sròineasach...”
 
“’S an Oidhche Sin Chaidh Sinn air Allaban”, by Rodan MacLachlainn – Inveroran
The bard wrote a satire against the hotel at the time, in which he received no hospitality, in Inveroran:
’S an oidhche sin chaidh sinn air allaban
As thuirt? i Inbhir Dhobhrain
Gun d’ rinn an t-acras
A’s cha do chaisg iad mòran;
Fhuair sinn samhla bradan agus
beagan ann de còinnich
’S a chuid a chur iad an uair(st) a chook
Chan fhoghnadh e a dhà...
 
We shall return with more songs, starting with Glencoe. Do you recognise any of the songs above? Do you have any other songs you would recommend that are not in this blog? Let us know on facebook, twitter and our website.