Gu Fada Dhan Iar (English Translation Below) Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar mhòr-shoirbheas gan stiùireadh ‘s gan tarraing le deòin Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar gu h-ardhartach ‘s gu dùileach a sheòl iad Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar Càirdean san dàimh air am fàgail le deòir Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar Le fios nan cridhe nach fhaicear rim beo ‘ad Sheol iad thar a’ chuain àit’ an eòlais air an cùl gu dùthaich a gheallaidh le chothrom ‘s sùil ùr An dèidh laithean dòrch’ dùr a-nisd dòchas is sunnd Adhartach, dàna, a dh’fhalbh iad a-null Air n’aineol a’ seòladh tro uisgeachan cèin stuaghan garbh greannach gan tarraing o chèil Gu bhailtean mòr farsaing ‘s do fhàsachan geur Gu dìcheall ag iomairt an saothair ‘s gach ceum Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar mhòr-shoirbheas gan stiùireadh ‘s gan tarraing le deòin Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar gu h-ardhartach ‘s gu dùileach a sheòl iad Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar Càirdean san dàimh air am fàgail le deòir Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar Le fios nan cridhe nach fhaicear rim beo ‘ad Cruadhdail is tàmailt bha feitheimh orra thall Fearann glè thruagh garbh gun fheum ‘s e cho meallt’ Ach ‘s iad a bha ceannraigeach eolach is buan Cuid ghabh ceum air thoiseach ged bha ‘n fharpuis cho cruaidh Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar mhòr-shoirbheas gan stiuireadh ‘s gan tarraing le deòin Dhan iar dhan iar gu fada dhan iar gu h-ardhartach ‘s gu dùileach a sheòl iad Away Out To the West To the west to the west away out to the west prosperity steering and guiding them To the west to the west away out to the west With ambition and expectation they sailed To the west to the west away out to the west Relatives and kin left behind tearfully To the west to the west away out to the west Knowing in their hearts they wouldn’t see them again They sailed across ocean leaving familiarity behind To the promised land with new opportunity After dark depressing days now hope and happiness Progressively and daring they went Sailing through unacquainted foreign waters Carried through rough angry waves To huge cities and severe wilderness Endeavouring to work at every opportunity To the west to the west away out to the west prosperity steering and guiding them To the west to the west away out to the west With ambition and expectation they sailed To the west to the west away out to the west Relatives and kin left behind tearfully To the west to the west away out to the west Knowing in their hearts they wouldn’t see them again Hardship and disappointment awaited them Poor useless deceptive land But they with headstrong, knowledgeable and hardy Some prospered in testing times. To the west to the west away out to the west prosperity steering and guiding them To the west to the west away out to the west With ambition and expectation they sailed

'Ille Dhuinn, on Dh'fhàg Thu Mise, (English Translation Below) 'Ille dhuinn, on dh'fhàg thu mise, 'Ille dhuinn, on dh'fhàg thu mi, 'Ille dhuinn, on rinn thu m' fhàgail, Soiridh slàn leat, ghràidh mo chridh'. Còig bliadhn' deug a dh'aois a bha thu A' chiad uair a dh'fhàg thu mi, 'S e mo chridhe-sa fhuair fhàsgadh, 'S neònach nach do dh'fhàs mi liath. Gur muladach a rinn thu m' fhàgail, Gur muladach a dh'fhàg thu mi, Tha mi 'n-diugh am freasdal Màiri, Dhan t-seachdnar a dh'àraich mi. 'S iomadh màthair tha fo smalan, Agus leannan tha gu tinn, Bhon latha sheòl am Metagama, Leis na balaich às an tìr. 'S iomadh oidhche 's càch nan cadal, Aig an teine 's mi leam fhìn, Chluinninn fuaim do chois tigh'nn dhachaidh 'S bhiodh tu gabhail duanag ghrinn Cha do chreid mi riamh an fhìrinn, 'S tu ga h-innse dhomh le cinnt', Gus do shìn thu, ghaoil, do làmh dhomh, "Seo, a mhàthair, beannachd leibh." 'S ann nam sheasamh aig an doras, Bha mi coimhead às do dhèidh, Seachad Ruaidheabhal nan gearrach, Anns a' charbad aig Maclean. Thug thu m' aire far a' chadail, Ged rachainn dhan leabaidh sgìth, Thug thu m' aire far mo chàirdean, Thug far clann mo mhàthar fhìn. Nuair a thèid mi chun a' chladaich, Is a chì mi 'n Cuan an Iar, Bàrr air tha cho geal ri faoileig, Saoil a bheil mo ghaol-sa tinn. Cha chluinn mi do ghuth, a Dhòmhnaill, Beul nan òran bha leam binn, Ach ag èisteachd eòin an adhair, 'S guil na h-eala air Loch Bì. Brown haired boy since you left me, Brown haired boy since you left me, Brown haired boy since you left me, A healthy farewell, my heart’s love. Fifteen year old you were The first time that you left me My heart was crushed A wonder I didn’t turn blue Your leaving left me melancholy Melancholy you left me I am now attending to Màiri One of the seven I raised Many mother is aggrieved And lovers are ill, With the sailing of the Metagama, With the boys from our land. Many nights when others are sleeping, Alone by the fireside, I could hear your footsteps coming home You’d be singing a beautiful song I did not believe it to be true, When you told me with certainty My darling until you gave me your hand saying, "Blessing to you mother." I was standing in the doorway, Watching you leave, Past Ruaidheabhal, In Maclean’s car. You prevented me from sleeping, Even when I went to bed tired, You took my mind from my family From my own siblings. When I go to the shore, And I see the Atlantic Ocean Tops as white as seagulls, I wonder if you are unwell I cannot hear your voice Donald A singing voice that was to me sweet, I hear birds in the sky, And the weeping of swans on Loch Bì.

Fàgail Bhòrnais (English Translation Below) Gur mi bha gòrach a' fàgail Bhòrnais, An t-àite as bòidhche tha an-diugh fon ghrèin, Ged tha clach ri faotainn is geugan fraoich Tha talamh maoth ann is e farsaing rèidh. A' chruit is brèagha air an deàlraich grian Is Loch an Iasgair 's e shìos fo ceann, Am breac cho lìonmhor a’ dol dhan lìon 'S gach gnè de eunlaith mu a chladach thall. Gur ann Didòmhnaich a dh'fhàg mi Bòrnais, Bha m' inntinn brònach 's mi sileadh dheur, Mi fhìn 's mo phàistean cur cùl rir n-fhàrdaich Far am faighte tàmh agus cadal rèidh. 'S ann tha mi 'n-dràsta aig iomall fàsaich, 'S tha m' inntinn cràiteach 's cha dèan e feum. Gur bochd an saoghal mar nì e caochladh 'S a tha mise nam aonar an seo leam fhìn. Gur tric mi smaoineachadh air na caoraich Air na maolaidhean dh'fhàg mi thall, Aig Cnoc na Fèilleadh bidh iad nan treudan 'S an cìobair gleusta gan cumail ann, 'S iad fhèin 's na h-ògain dol suas gu Bòrnais, B' e 'n sealladh bòidheach e aig an àm. 'S aig àm an rùsgaidh bidh airm gan tionndadh 'S a' chlòimh na dùnan air gach taobh den fhang. Gur sinn bhiodh sunndach aig àm bliadhn' ùire A' dèanamh sùgradh leis na gillean òga, Mi fhìn 's mo chàirdean gu cridheil, bàidheil Ag òl deoch-slàinteachan dhaoine còir. San eilean uasal gun teas gun fhuachd ann Ach gaoth a tuath nach dèan coire mhòr Gun caidlinn suaineach an lagan luachrach Gus an dùisginn suas anns a' mhadainn òig. An àm bhith 'g èirigh sa mhadainn Chèitein Bidh ceò air slèibhtean 's air bhàrr nam beann; Bidh ciorrach mìn anns na glinn as ìsle Is dealta mhìn a' toirt a-mach an fheòir. Bidh crodh air cruaichean nam beanntan uasal Gun sileadh fuar na gun reothadh mòr, Gus an tig am buachaille bhios gan uallach 'S gun tog e suas iad ri bonn a' cheò. Chan ionnan àite sa bheil mi 'n-dràsta Bidh an teas gam chnàmh fhad 's bhios mi beò. Bidh am fuachd gam chiùrradh an àm na Dùbhlachd Le clogaid dhùbailt mar bhian a' ròin. Cha tèid mi air chèilidh, cha dèan e feum, Ach 's fheudar gèilltinn an seo rim bheò, Mi dol bhom smaointinn 's an doras dùinte, 'S nach faigh mi null far bheil Dòmhnall Mòr. Gur mi bha gòrach a' fàgail Bhòrnais, An t-àite as bòidhche tha an-diugh fon ghrèin, Ged tha clach ri faotainn is geugan fraoich Tha talamh maoth ann is e farsaing rèidh. A' chruit is brèagha air an deàlraich grian Is Loch an Iasgair 's e shìos fo ceann, Am breac cho lìonmhor a’ dol dhan lìon 'S gach gnè de eunlaith mu a chladach thall. Leaving Bornish I was foolish leaving Bornish, The most beautiful place under the sun, Although it’s rocky and heathery The land is flat and easy to work. The most beautiful croft on which sun has shone With Loch an Iasgair at its foot, The salmon so plentiful With varied birds down by the shore. It was on Sunday that we left Bornish, My mind was heavy as I shed some tears Me and my children leaving our home Where we lived and slept peacefully. I am now on the edge of wilderness, My mind is tortured and it does me no good How unfortunate our world with its changes And I’m now here all alone . I often think of the sheep The white faced I left behind At Cnoc na Fèilleadh they would be huge flocks With the quick shepherd keeping them together The sheep and lambs heading up to Bornish A grand spectacle at the time At the time of shearing armies would be involved With forts of wool stacked around the sheep-fold. We would be jolly at New Year Having fun with the younger boys, With my relatives, affectionately and heartily Raising toasts to kind people In this noble island without heat nor cold But a north wind that doesn’t cause much offense I could sleep soundly in a hollow of rushes Until I wakened in the early morn. Awakening in the May morning Mist on the moorland and top of hills. A light drizzle in the lower glens A sweet dew giving life to the grass. The cattle on the noble hills No cold rain or freezing frost Until the herder who is responsible Leads them up out of the mist. Unlike the place where I now am The heat erodes me as long as I live. In December the cold is torturous And I need to wear a hat made from seal fur I can’t go for a cèilidh, it will do no good, I have to accept that this is where I will live, I’m with my thoughts with the door closed I cannot go over and visit Dòmhnall Mòr.