Allan Morrison was a sea captain from the isle of Lewis. In the spring of 1788 he left Stornoway to go to Scalpay, Harris, where he was to marry Annie Campbell. Unfortunately they sailed into a storm and all the crew sank with the vessel. This is the lament she composed.
The broken-hearted Annie wasted away through grief and died a few months afterward. Her body was washed ashore near where her fiance's was found.
Gura mise tha fo éislean,
Moch 's a' mhadainn is mi 'g éirigh
Séist
Ò hì shiùbhlainn leat,
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì,
Hì ri bhò hò rionn o ho,
Ailein duinn,
ò hì shiùbhlainn leat.
Ma 's e cluasag dhut a' ghainneamh,
Ma 's e leabaidh dhut an fheamainn
Sèist
Ma 's e 'n t-iasg do choinnlean geala,
Ma 's e na ròin do luchd-faire
Sèist
Dh'òlainn deoch ge boil le càch e,
De dh'fhuil do choim 's tu 'n déidh do bhathadh
Sèist
How sorrowful I am
When I rise early in the morning
Chorus
Ò hì I would walk with you.
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì,
Hì ri bhò hò rionn o ho,
Brown-haired Alan, Ò hì,
I would walk with you
If the sand be your pillow,
If the seaweed be your bed
Chorus
If the fish are your candles bright,
If the seals are your watchmen
Chorus
I would take a drink, though everyone would be scandalised,
Of your heart's blood after you were drowned.
Chorus
Other recordings of this song:
This song can be heard on the following albums:
Other versions of this song
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/murray/ailean.htm
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/capercaillie/ailein.htm
Other songs in Scottish Gaelic | Songs in other languages
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