Name: Marloch 23 - Fàgail Bhornais
Duration: P00H05M48S
Description: Fàgail Bhornais was written in 1923 by Donald MacDonald, South Uist. It was composed for two friends and their families who emigrated to Canada. On 15th April 1923 almost 300 people left Lochboisdale, South Uist on the SS Marloch bound for a new life in Canada. I recorded this song in 2023 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the mass emigration.

Marloch 23 - Fàgail Bhornais

by Mairi MacMillan

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Fàgail Bhornais was written in 1923 by Donald MacDonald, South Uist. It was composed for two friends and their families who emigrated to Canada. On 15th April 1923 almost 300 people left Lochboisdale, South Uist on the SS Marloch bound for a new life in Canada. I recorded this song in 2023 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the mass emigration.

lyrics

Fàgail Bhòrnais

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.

credits

released January 22, 2024

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Mairi MacMillan Glasgow, UK

Traditional Scottish Gaelic Singer.

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