This song was written by William Mackenzie (1857-1907) from in Lewis. I learnt it from Christine Primrose in the Gaelic Song class at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye in 2008.
Le Uilleam MacCoinnich, Siadar an Rudha, Eilean Leòdhais.
Eilean fraoich Eilean fraoich
Eilean fraoich nam beann àrd
Far an d'fhuair mi m' àrach òg
Eilean Leòdhais mo ghràidh
Chaidh mi tarsuinn air a' chuan
'S chaidh mi suas abhainn sàil
An Quebec chaidh mi air tìr
'S thug mi sgrìob feadh an àit
'S ged a bheirte dhomh an tìr
Eadar chraobhan is bàrr
B'fhearr leam a bhi measg an fhraoich
Ann an Tìr nam Beann Àrd
Thug mi greis de làithean m' òig
Air a' mhòintich nam phàisd
'S mi ri tional nan laogh òg
Is nam bò aig an tràth
Far an faca mi an òigh
Thuit mi òg anns a' ghràdh
'S ann a chionn nach eil i beò
Tha mi seòladh air sàl
Island of the heather
Island of the heather and high peaks
Where I was raised
my dear Island of Lewis
I went overseas
and went up a salt-water river
landed at Quebec
and had a look around the place
Even if I were given all the land
with its trees and crops
I would much rather be amongst the heather
In the Land of the High Bens
I spent a lot of my childhood days
on the moorland as a young boy
Tending the young calves
and the cattle at evening time
Where I laid eyes on the young maiden
I was young when I fell in love
And it's because she is not alive
That I am sailing across the sea
Recordings of this song:
This song can be heard on:
Other versions of this song
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/macmillancalum/eilean.htm
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/mackenzie/eilean.htm
Other songs in Scottish Gaelic | Songs in other languages
[top]
You can support this site by Buying Me A Coffee, and if you like what you see on this page, you can use the buttons below to share it with people you know.
If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.
Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com
[top]
