17 Ged a Sheòl Mi Air M'Aineol 17
Faclan le Roderick Morrison
 
 

Séist
Ged a sheòl mi air m'aineol.
Cha laigh smalan air m'inntinn,
Ged a sheòl mi air m'aineol.

 
'S ann   Boston a sheòl sinn
'Dol air bhòidse chun na h-Innsean.
 
Rinn sinn còrdadh ri caiptean
Air a' bhàrc a bha rìomhach.
 
Trì latha roimh 'n Nollaig
Thàinig oirnn an droch shìde.
 
Shéid e cruaidh oirnn le frasan,
'S clach-mheallain bha millteach.
 
Cha robh ròpa 's robh òirleach,
'N uair a reòth' e nach robh trì ann.
 
Chaill sinn craiceann ar làmhan.
'S bha ar gàirdeanan sgìth dheth.
 
Trì latha is trì oidhche,
'S bha seachdnar 'n sìneadh.
 
Ám na Nollaig, cha robh candaich
Cha robh Sants anns an tìr seo.
 
Dh'fhalbh 'n seòl-mullaich 'n a shròicean,  
Chan e spòrs a bhi 'g a ìnnse.
Chorus
Although I sailed to foreign countries,
Sadness did not linger in my mind,
Although I sailed to foreign countries.

 
We sailed from Boston
On a voyage to the Indies
 
We came to an agreement with
A skipper of a handsome ship.
 
Three days before Christmas
Bad weather descended upon us.
 
The wind blew strongly with rain-
Showers and stinging hail stones
 
When the inch-thick ropes froze
They became three inches in girth.
 
We lost the skin of our hands, and
Our arms were tired of the struggle.
 
I spent three days and three nights
At the wheel during the storm.
 
It is Christmas, there isn't candy,
There is no Santa in this place.
 
The top-sail was torn to shreds;
It is no fun to tell about it.

17B Ged a Sheòl Mi Air M'Aineol 17B
As sung by John Alec MacDonald, 1975 North Shore Gaelic Singers
 
 
Séist
Ged a sheòl mi air m'aineol.
Cha laigh smalan air m'inntinn,
Ged a sheòl mi air m'aineol.

'S ann   Boston a sheòl sinn
'Dol air bhòidse chun na h-Innsean.
 
Rinn sinn còrdadh ri caiptean
Air a' bhàrc a bha rìomhach.
 
Thilg i, shéid i oirnn le frasan
'S clach-mheallain a bha millteach.
 
Gun robh ròpa 's gun robh òirleach,
'N uair a reòth' e bha a trì ann.
 
Chaill sinn craiceann ar làmhan.
'S bha ar gàirdeanan sgìth dheth.
 
Trì latha is trì oidhche,
Air a' chuibhle le droch shìde.
'N uair sin thubhairt an caiptean
"'Illean tapaidh na dìobraibh
 
'N uair a ruigeas sinn caladh
Bidh ùr dram dhuinn cinnteach"
 
Dh'fhalbh an "rigging" dhe'n "bhowsprit"
Leis an tonn a bha dìreadh.
 
Dh'fhalbh an "top-sail" 's a' "royal"
Bochd an spòrs a bhi 'g a ìnnse.
 
'N uair a ruitheadh i gu fuaradh
'S ann an uairsin rinn sinn mìle
 
Tha lionn dhubh air mo mhàthair
'S truagh an dùil nach dèan sinn tilleadh

17C Ged a Sheòl Mi Air M'Aineol 17C
As sung by Alex Morrison, Marion Bridge
 
 

Séist
Ged a sheòl mi air m'aineol.
Cha laigh smalan air m'inntinn,
Ged a sheòl mi air m'aineol.      

 
'S ann   Boston a sheòl sinn
'Dol air bhóidse chun na h-Innsean.
 
Rinn sinn còrdadh ri caiptean
Air a' bhàrc a bha rìomhach.
 
Trì latha roimh 'n Nollaig
Thàinig oirnn an droch shìde.
 
Shéid e cruaidh oirnn le frasan,
'S clach-mheallain bha millteach.
 
Cha robh ròpa 's robh òirleach,
'N uair a reòth' e nach robh trì ann.
 
Chaill sinn craiceann ar làmhan.
'S bha ar gàirdeanan sgìth dheth.
 
Bha còignear 'n an seasamh,
'S bha seachdnar 'n an sìneadh.
 
Trì latha is trì oidhche,
'S mi ri cuibhl' ri droch shìde.
 
Sin uair labhair an caiptean
"'Illean tapaidh na dìobraibh."
 
"'N uair a ruigeas sinn caladh
Bidh ùr dram dhuinn cinnteach"
 
Dh'fhalbh an "rigging" o'n "bhowsprit"
Leis an tonn a bha dìreadh.
 
Dh'fhalbh 'n seòl-mullaich 'n a shròicean,
Chan e spòrs a bhi 'g a ìnnse.
 
'N uair a ruitheadh i gu fuaradh
'S ann a bhuanaicheadh i mìltean

Tha lionn dubh air mo mhàthair
Agus dùil aic' nach till mi.
Chorus
Although I sailed to foreign countries,
Sadness did not linger in my mind,
Although I sailed to foreign countries.

 
We sailed from Boston
On a voyage to the Indies
 
We came to an agreement with
A skipper of a handsome ship.
 
Three days before Christmas
Bad weather descended upon us.
 
The wind blew strongly with rain-
Showers and stinging hail stones
 
When the inch-thick ropes froze
They became three inches in girth.
 
We lost the skin of our hands, and
Our arms were tired of the struggle.
 
Five of the crew members were standing
And Seven were prone.
 
I spent three days and three nights
At the wheel during the storm.
 
That is when the skipper said,
"Do not yield stout-hearted lads."
 
"When you reach port
Your dram will be certain."
 
The rigging and the bowsprit were washed
With the wave that was rising.
 
The top-sail was torn to shreds;
It is no fun to tell about it.
 
When the ship would veer to windward
She would gain many leages.
 
My mother is dejected because
She does not expect me to return.

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Courtesy of An Cliath Clis
www.ancliathclis.ca