Fhir a' bhàta / Thig am bàta (Eilidh Mackenzie)

"Fhir a' bhàta" (The Boatman) and "Thig am bàta" (The Boat Will Come), Two Scottish-Gaelic songs performed by folk singer Eilidh Mackenzie. Accompanied by Alison Kinnaird (harp), Dougie Pincock (whistle) and Gillian Mackenzie. Taken from the album "Eideadh na Sgeulachd" (The Raiment of the Tale) (1992).

[cranntara]

FHIR A' BHATA
Is tric mi 'sealltainn o 'n chnoc a's àirde
Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear a' bhàta
An tig thu 'n diùgh no 'n tig thu a-màireach?
'S mur tig thu idir gur truagh a tà mi

Chorus:
Fhir a' bhàta na ho ro eile
Fhir a' bhàta na ho ro eile
Fhir a' bhàta na ho ro eile
Mo shoraidh slàn leat 's gach àit' an tèid thu

Tha mo chridhe-sa briste, brùite
'S tric na deòir a' ruith o m' shùilean
An tig thu a-nochd no 'm bi mo dhùil riut
No 'n dùin mi 'n dorus le osna thùrsaich?

'S tric mi 'faighneachd de luchd nam bàta
Am fac' iad thu no a bheil thu sàbhailt'
Ach 's ann a tha gach aon dhiùbh 'g ràitinn
Gur gòrach mise ma thug mi gràdh dhut

THIG AM BATA
Thig am bàta, hug ò
Moch am màireach, hug ò
Bidh m'athair innt', hi ri o-ho
'S mo thriùir bhràithrean, hug ò

'S mo chéile donn, hug ò
Air ràmh braghad, hug ò
'S gheibh iad mise, hi ri ò
Air mo bhàthadh, hug ò

'S togaidh iad mi, hug ò
Air na ràmhan, hug ò
'S mo bhreacan donn, hi ri o-ho
Snàmh na fairge, hug ò

Cha b'e 'n t-acras, hug ò
Chuir do 'n tràigh mi, hug ò
Nach miann an duileasg, hi ri o-ho
'S miann nam beàrnach, hug ò

Fhir ud thall, hug ò
Falbh na tràghad, hug ò
Soraidh bhuamsa, hi ri o-ho
Gu mo mhàthair, hug ò

O mo mhallachd, hug ò
Aig bean eudaich, hug ò
Dh'fhàg i mise, hi ri o-ho
'S an sgeir bhàthte, hug ò

Thig am bàta, hug ò
Moch am màireach, hug ò
'S gheibh iad mise, hi ri o-ho
Air mo bhàthadh, hug ò

[cranntara]

O BOATMAN
Often I'm searching on top of the hill
Hoping to see my the boatman
Will you come today or will you come tomorrow?
And if you don't come at all, I'll be in despair

Chorus:
O boatman, na ho ro eile
O boatman, na ho ro eile
O boatman, na ho ro eile
My fond farewell to you, wherever you may be

My heart is broken, bruised
Often tears are running from my eyes
Will you come tonight or should I wait for you
Or close the door, sighing heavily?

Often I ask the boatmen
If they have seen you or if you're safe
But all of them are saying
That I'm a fool to give my love to you.

THE BOAT WILL COME
The boat will come, hug ò
Early tomorrow, hug ò
My father will be in it, hi ri o-ho
And my three brothers, hug ò

And my brown-haired husband, hug ò
On the chest oar, hug ò
And they will find me, hi ri o-ho
Drowned, hug ò

They'll lift me up, hug ò
On the oars, hug ò
And my brown plaid, hi ri o-ho
Swimming on the sea, hug ò

It wasn't the hunger, hug ò
That sent me to the strand, hug ò
Or desire of dulse, hi ri o-ho
Or desire of limpets, hug ò

O man yonder, hug ò
Walking on the strand, hug ò
Say farewell from me, hi ri o-ho
To my mother, hug ò

O my curses, hug ò
To the jealous woman, hug ò
She left me, hi ri o-ho
On the rock of drownings, hug ò

The boat will come, hug ò
Early tomorrow, hug ò
And they will find me, hi ri o-ho
Drowned, hug ò