This song comes from the book Gaelic Songs in Nova Scotia. I learnt it from Christine Primrose in the Gaelic Song class at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye in 2008.
O teannaibh dlùth is togaibh fonn
Mo chridhe trom air m' aineol
'S mi fad o eilean an damh donn
'S bho thìr nan gleann 's nan gallan
O beir an t-soraidh seo nis bhuam
Thar chuain is chruaich is bheannaibh
A dh' ionnsaigh Muile nam beann fuar
O eilean uaine a' bharraich
Och a Rìgh nach mi bha thall
An tìr nan gleann 's nam bealach
Tìr nan craobh suid tìr mo ghaoil
Nan lagan fraoich is rainnaich
O suid na glinn 's am faighte aoidh
'S na roinn chum taobh na mara
Tha luchd mo ghaoil-s' an diugh ma sgaoil
'S an t-àit fo chaoraich Shasuinn
Gur truagh a' Ghàidhlig bhi 'na càs
O 'n dh' fhalbh na Gàidheil a bh' againn
A ghineil òig tha tighinn 'n an àit'
O togaibh ard a bratach
O sit closer and let us sing a song
My heart is dejected in a strange land
I am far away from the island of the brown stags
And from the land of glens and saplings
O take this greeting from me now
Over the ocean, rounded hills and bens
To Mull of the cold mountains
O green island of the birch trees
Och o Lord I wish I was over there
In the land of dales and mountain-gorges
The land of trees is my own dear land
WIth heather hollows amongst the bracken
O these are the valleys of kindness
Especially in the districts beside the sea
My loved ones have now departed
And their homes are under English sheep-runs
It is a pity Gaelic is in such a precarious state
Since the departure of the Gaels we knew
O youthful race that has replaced them
Unfurl the (Gaelic) banner to its maximum height
This song can be heard on:
Other versions of this song
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/compilations/oteannaibh.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]
