94 AILEAN DUINN A NÌ 'S A NÀIRE 94

A Song for Brown-Haired Allan

Fonn:

Ì 's na hug oirnn o ho
Ì 's na hì ri ri ù


Ailean duinn a ni 's a nàire

Brown haired Allan, his riches and shame

'S goirt 's gum daor phàigh mi màl dhut

My rent to you was sore and dear

Cha chrodh-laoigh, na caoraich bhàna

It isn't calves, or white sheep

Cha bhola, cha pheic, 's cha mhàm e

It isn't the bole, peck or handful of grain

Cha nì, cha innsridh, 's chan àirneis

It isn't wealth, possessions or plenishings

Ach an luchd a thaom am bàta

But folk who bailed the boat

Bha m'athair oirre 's mo thriùir bhràithean

My father and three brothers were on board

'S laogh mo chuim a rinn mi àrach

And the calf of my womb who I nurtured

Chan e sin a léir 's a chràidh mi

That's not what vexed and wounded me

Ách am fear a ghlac air làimh mi

But the one who took me by the hand

Leathanach a' bhroillich bhàn-ghil

The fair chested Mac Lean

'Se a thug on Chlachan Di màirt mi

He took me from the shore on Tuesday

Ailean donn, b'e beul a' mhànrain

Brown Allan, his speech was sporting

A Righ nam Fear, bu mhór do gràdh dhomh

God, your love for me was great

Gur iad na ròin do luchd-taighe

The seals are your house servants

Do choinnlean àrd na reultan geala

Your tall candles are the shining stars

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Courtesy of An Cliath Clis
www.ancliathclis.ca