'S ann a Bhruadail Mi Raoir
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1964.43.A1
Original Tape ID
Summary
This love song begins with a dream image of a swan on the sea. The composer expresses his sadness that he and the girl he loved have parted. He tells of his hard life at sea, and wishes he could go to the girl, though he knows she has broken her promise to him. He wants to know the truth and will not pass judgement on her.
Item Notes
Mrs Munro seems to be the only recorded source for this text of the song. Her mother used to sing it when she was spinning. A shorter version with some differences of text has been recorded from Agnes Currie (Mrs Gallacher) and can be heard here.
The final line of the fifth verse sung (Bhiodh macraichean triall do chuim): Mrs Munro herself acknowledged that there had been text corruption, and always stated this when singing the song.
Language
Gaelic
Genre
Collection
Transcription
An eal' air a' chuan 's i snàmh
'S a h-aghaidh gu tìr
Bha mo leannan 's mi fhìn mar sgaoil.
Gura mis' tha fo ghruaim
Bidh mi sin, ach a luaidh an-dràst'
Gur e stoirm is droch uair
A tha gad shìor chumail bhuamsa, ghràidh.
Tha mo làmhan cho sgìth
'S nach urrainn mi inns' an-dràst'
'S mi ri tarrainn nan ròp
'S ri cumail nan seòl an-àird.
Tha an lèin' tha rim chùl
Cho fliuch 's a nì 'm bùrn no sàl
'S mi ri iarraidh dol sìos
Far bheil nighean mo ghaoil a' tàmh.
Gur e brìodal do bheòil
A mheall mi 's mi òg is faoin
Ach nam faighinn mo mhiann
Bhiodh macraichean triall do chuim.
Thug thu gealladh às ùr
'S chaidh an comann air chùil a bha
Gura fhada bhon uair
O mheall iad thu bhuamsa, ghràidh.
Cha tòir mi ort binn
Ach innis dhomh 'n fhìrinn rèidh
Cha bhi naidheachd ri inns'
Aig fear eil' orm fhìn mu d' dheidhinn.
'S ann a bhruadair mi raoir
An eal' air a' chuan 's i snàmh
'S a h-aghaidh gu tìr
Bha mo leannan 's mi fhìn mar sgaoil.
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good