Fear a' Bhàta

Fear a' Bhàta (translated The boatman) is a Scots Gaelic song from the late 18th century, written by Sìne NicFhionnlaigh (Jean Finlayson) of Tong who was courting a young fisherman from Uig, Dòmhnall MacRath. The song captures the emotions that she endured during their courtship. The part of the story that is rarely told is that they were married not long after she composed the song.^[1]^[2]

Lyrics

There are many versions of the lyrics and of the melody:

Gaelic verses

Séist:

Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro eile

Mo shoraidh slàn leat 's gach àit' an téid thu

'S tric mi sealltainn on chnoc as àirde

Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear a' bhàta

An tig thu 'n-diugh na 'n tig thu màireach

'S mar tig thu idir gur truagh a ta mi

Tha mo chridhe-sa briste brùite

'S tric na deòir a ruith o m' shùilean

An tig thu nochd na 'm bi mo dhùil riut

Na 'n dùin mi 'n doras le osna thùrsaich?

'S tric mi faighneachd de luchd nam bàta

Am fac' iad thu na 'm bheil thu sàbhailt

Ach 's ann a tha gach aon dhiubh 'g ràitinn

Gur gòrach mise ma thug mi gràdh dhut

Gheall mo leannan dhomh gùn dhen t-sìoda

Gheall e siud agus breacan rìomhach

Fàinn' òir anns am faicinn ìomhaigh

Ach 's eagal leam gun dèan e dìochuimhn'

Ged a thuirt iad gun robh thu aotrom

Cha do lughdaich siud mo ghaol ort

Bidh tu m' aisling anns an oidhche

Is anns a' mhadainn bidh mi 'gad fhaighneachd

Thug mi gaol dhut 's chan fhaod mi àicheadh

Cha ghaol bliadhna 's cha ghaol ràithe

Ach gaol a thòisich nuair bha mi 'm phàiste

'S nach searg a chaoidh gus an claoidh am bàs mi

Tha mo chàirdean gu tric ag innseadh

Gum feum mi d' aogas a leig' air dìochuimhn'

Ach tha 'n comhairle dhomh cho dìomhain

'S bi tilleadh mara 's i toirt lìonaidh

Bidh mi tuille tùrsach deurach

Mar eala bhàn 's i an dèidh a reubadh

Guileag bàis aic' air lochan feurach

Is càch gu lèir an dèidh a trèigeadh

English translation

Chorus (after each verse):

O Boatman, no one else

My farewell to you wherever you go

I often look from the highest hill

That I might see my boatman

Will you come tonight, or will you come tomorrow

Oh sorry will I be if you do not come at all

My heart is broken, bruised

Often tears are running down from my eyes

Will you come tonight, or will I wait up for you

Or close the door with a sad sigh?

I often ask of the boatmen

If they have seen you, if you are safe

But they all tell me

That I was foolish if I gave you love.

My darling promised me a gown of silk

That and a fine plait

A golden ring in which I'd see a likeness

But I fear that he shall forget.

Although they said you were flighty

That did not lessen my love for you

You are in my dreams at night

And in the morning I ask for you.

I gave you love and cannot deny

It's not love that lasts a year or a season

But a love that began when I was a child

And that will not wither until death do take me.

My friends say often

That I must forget your image

But their counsel is as unfathomable to me

As is the returning tide.

I am all too sad and tearful

Like a white swan that has been torn

Sounding her death-call on a small grassy loch

Having been forsaken by all.

References

↑ "BBC ALBA – Bliadhna nan Òran – Òrain : Sgrìobhaichean, Sìne NicFhionnlaigh". Bbc.co.uk. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
↑ "Beag Air Bheag - Learn a Gaelic Song". BBC. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2013-09-02.

External links

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Fear a' Bhàta

Lyrics

See also

References

External links