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