Fear a' bhàta
Encyclopedia
Fear a' Bhàta is a Scots Gaelic
song from the late 19th century, written by Sìne NicFhionnlaigh of Tong who was courting a young fisherman from Uig
, Dòmhnall MacRath. The song captures the emotions that she endured during their courtship. The part of the story that is rarely told is that they were married not long after she composed the song.
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
song from the late 19th century, written by Sìne NicFhionnlaigh of Tong who was courting a young fisherman from Uig
Uig, Lewis
Uig , also known as Sgìr' Ùig, is a civil parish and community on the western coast of the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It consists of scattered settlements around the bay of Camas Uig and the Bhaltos peninsula...
, Dòmhnall MacRath. The song captures the emotions that she endured during their courtship. The part of the story that is rarely told is that they were married not long after she composed the song.
Lyrics
There are many versions of the lyrics and of the melody:- Gaelic verses
- Séist:
- Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro eile
- Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro eile
- Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro eile
- Mo shoraidh slàn leat 's gach àit' an déid thu
- 'S tric mi sealltainn on chnoc as àirde
- Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear a' bhàta
- An dig thu 'n-diugh na 'n dig thu màireach
- 'S mar dig thu idir gur truagh a tha mi
- Tha mo chridhe-sa briste brùite
- 'S tric na deòir a ruith o m' shùilean
- An dig thu nochd na 'm bi mo dhùil riut
- Na 'n dùin mi 'n doras le osna thùrsaich?
- 'S tric mi faighneachd de luchd nam bàta
- Am fac' iad thu na 'm bheil thu sàbhailt
- Ach 's ann a tha gach aon dhiubh 'g ràitinn
- Gur gòrach mise ma thug mi gràdh dhut
- Gheall mo leannan dhomh gùn dhen t-sìoda
- Gheall e siud agus breacan rìomhach
- Fàinn' òir anns am faicinn ìomhaigh
- Ach 's eagal leam gun dèan e dìochuimhn'
- Ged a thuirt iad gun robh thu aotrom
- Cha do lughdaich siud mo ghaol ort
- Bidh tu m' aisling anns an oidhche
- Is anns a' mhadainn bidh mi 'gad fhaighneachd
- Thug mi gaol dhut 's chan fhaod mi àicheadh
- Cha ghaol bliadhna 's cha ghaol ràithe
- Ach gaol a thòisich nuair bha mi 'm phàiste
- 'S nach searg a chaoidh gus an claoidh am bàs mi
- Tha mo chàirdean gu tric ag innseadh
- Gum feum mi d' aogas a leig' air dìochuimhn'
- Ach tha 'n comhairle dhomh cho dìomhain
- 'S bi tilleadh mara 's i toirt lìonaidh
- Bidh mi tuille tùrsach deurach
- Mar eala bhàn 's i an dèidh a reubadh
- Guileag bàis aic' air lochan feurach
- Is càch gu lèir an dèidh a trèigeadh
- English translation
- Chorus (after each verse):
- Oh my boatman, na hóro eile
- Oh my boatman, na hóro eile
- Oh my boatman, na hóro eile
- My farwell to you wherever you go
- I often look from the highest hill
- that I might see, oh boatman
- Will you come tonight, or will you come tomorrow
- Oh sorry will I be if you do not come at all
- My heart is broken, bruised
- Often tears are running down from my eyes
- Will you come tonight, or will I wait up for you
- Or close the door with a sad sigh?
- I often ask of the boatmen
- If they have seen you, if you are safe
- But they all tell me
- That I was foolish if I gave you love.
- My darling promised me a gown of silk
- That and a fine plait
- A golden ring in which I'd see a likeness
- But I fear that he shall forget.
- Although they said you were flighty
- That did not lessen my love for you
- You are in my dreams at night
- And in the morning I ask for you.
- I gave you love and cannot deny
- It's not love that lasts a year or a season
- But a love that began when I was a child
- And that will not wither until death do take me.
- My friends say often
- That I must forget your image
- But their counsel is as unfathomable to me
- As is the returning tide.
- I am all too sad and tearful
- Like a white swan that has been torn
- Sounding her death-call on a small grassy loch
- Having been forsaken by all.
Versions
Many different artists have produced versions of this song, including the following album releases:- CapercaillieCapercaillie (band)Capercaillie is a Scottish folk band, founded in the 1980s by Donald Shaw and fronted by Karen Matheson. They have seen four of their albums placed in the UK Albums Chart, and continue to perform and record to the present day.-History:...
on the album Get OutGet Out (album)Get Out is an album by folk rock band Capercaillie originally issued in 1992 and rereleased in 1999 by Survival Records with five bonus tracks... - Mairi MacInnes on the album This Feeling Inside
- Eilidh Mackenzie on the album Eideadh Na Sgeulachd
- Fiona MackenzieFiona MackenzieFiona J Mackenzie is a Gaelic singer from Dingwall in Scotland, and has toured and performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2005 she won the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Stornoway.-Career:...
& Arthur CormackArthur CormackArthur Cormack is a Scots Gaelic singer and musician from Portree, Isle of Skye.-Music:Cormack started competing in Gaelic singing competitions when he was 8 and competing at Mods when he was 11...
on the album Seinn! O Ho Ro Seinn! - Talitha MacKenzieTalitha MacKenzieTalitha MacKenzie is an American world music recording artist, teacher and ethnomusicologist. Initially known for her work as the singing half of the original Mouth Music lineup, she has gone on to follow a highly-respected solo career...
on the album Spiorad - Quadriga ConsortQuadriga ConsortQuadriga Consort aka Quadriga Early Music Band is an early music ensemble from Austria. Founded in 2001 by harpsichordist Nikolaus Newerkla, the ensemble plays rearranged early British and Irish traditional music....
on the album By Yon Bonnie Banks - Oi PolloiOi PolloiOi Polloi are an anarcho-punk band from Scotland that formed around 1981. Starting as an Oi! band, they are generally associated more with the anarcho-punk genre. More recently the band have become notable for their contributions to the Scottish Gaelic punk subgenre...
on the album Ar Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-MachAr Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-MachAr Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-Mach is an anarcho-punk album, by the band Oi Polloi. It was released in 2006 on Skuld Records. The entire release is written and in the Scottish Gaelic language.-Track listing:# Ar Ceòl's Ar Cànan# Brosnachadh Catha... - Na h-ÒganaichNa h-ÒganaichGlasgow based Gaelic folk group Na h-Òganaich formed early in 1971, following a concert in Dunoon where Mod Gold Medallist singer Margaret MacLeod first met guitarist Noel Eadie...
on the album Gael Force 3