To Eala Bhàn

An Eala Bhàn ("The White Swan") is a Scottish Gaelic love song composed by Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna from North Uist during the Battle of the Somme . It is aimed at Magaidh NicLeòid (Maggie MacLeod), his mistress, his absence in the First World War .

An Eala Bhàn is widely considered to be the most popular Scottish Gaelic song written in the 20th century. In recent years it has been sung and recorded by a wide variety of artists. B. Calum Kennedy , Donnie Munro , Capercaillie and Julie Fowlis .

song lyrics

Scottish Gaelic Gur duilich leam mar tha mi 'S mo chridhe' n sàs aig bròn Bhon an uair a dh'fhàg mi Beanntan àrd a 'cheò Gleanntannan a'mhànrain Nan hole, nam bàgh 's nan sròm 'S an eala bhàn tha tàmh ann Gach latha air 'm bheil mi' n tòir. A Mhagaidh na bi tùrsach A rùin, ged gheibhinn bàs- Cò am fear am measg an t-sluaigh A mhaireas buan gu bràth? Chan eil sinn uile ach air chuairt Mar dhìthein buaile fàs Bheir siantannan na blianna sios 'S after tog a' ghrian an àird. Tha 'n talamh leir mun cuairt dhìom 'Na mheallan suas' s na neòil; Aig na 'shells a' bualadh - Cha leir dhomh bhuam le ceò: Gun chlaisneachd aig mo chluasan Le fuaim a 'ghunna mhòir; Oh ged tha 'n uair seo cruaidh orm Tha mo smuaintean air NicLeòid. Air m 'uilinn anns na truinnsichean Tha m 'inntinn ort, a ghràidh; Nam chadal bidh mi a 'bruadar place Cha dualach dhomh bhith slàn; Tha m'aigne air a lionadh Le cianalas cho làn 'S a'ghruag a dh'fhàs cho ruadh orm A nis air thuar bhith bàn. Oh dear, t-àm Is anns an Fhraing gu faigh mi bàs 'S san uaigh gun tèid mo shìneadh Far eil na mìltean chàch, Mo bheannachd leis a 'ghruagaich, A 'chaileag uasal bhbànn - Gach là a dh'fhalbh gun uallach dhi, Gun nàire gruaidh na dhàil. Oidhche mhath leat fhèin, a rùin Nad leabaidh chùbhraidh bhlàth; Cadal sàmhach air a chùl Do dhùsgadh sunndach slàn. Tha mise 'n seo' s an truinnsidh fhuar 'S nam chluasan fuaim bhàis Gun duil ri faighinn às le buaidh - Tha 'n cuan cho buan ri shnàmh.

German My condition is sad And my heart is full of sorrow From the day I left The high fog mountains The little playful valleys the lochs, the bays and the foreland And the white swan that lives there That I chase after every day. O Maggie don't be sad Beloved, if I should die - Who of us humans Live forever We're all just on one trip Like flowers in the abandoned cattle pen That the wind and rain pass over the years And not let the sun bloom. The whole world around me Is like hail in heaven; Through the exploding grenades - Am I blinded by the smoke: My ears are numb By the roar of the cannons; But despite the current atrocities My thoughts are with the girl MacLeod. Crushed into the trenches Are my thoughts all with you, beloved ones; I dream of you in my sleep It is not my destiny to survive; My mind is full With an excess of longing And my hair, once auburn, Is almost white now. But if it should happen That I am dying in France And be laid in the grave Like thousands before My blessings go to the girl So classy and pretty. May she be free from worry every day And her life is a source of pride. Good night my love In your warm, fragrant bed; May you have a peaceful sleep and afterwards May you wake up healthy and in a good mood. I'm here in the cold ditch With the glory of death in my ears To return home victorious without hope- The sea is too huge for swimming.

Web links

• Sheet Music
• Choral Arrangement Performed at the 1996 National Mod

Video

• Julie Fowlis sings "The White Swan" (In Gaelic)
• Julie Fowlis sings "The White Swan" - another version, including text in Gaelic and English
• At an improvised Highland Ceilidh
• "The White Swan" as performed by Calum Kennedy (In Gaelic)
• Performed in the Traditional Style by Hugh Matheson