Celtic Lyrics Corner > Artists & Groups > Arthur Cormack > Nuair Bha Mi Òg > Gillean Ghleann-dail

   
Nuair Bha Mi Òg Gillean Ghleann-dail
   
Credits: Iain MacLeod; arranged by Arthur Cormack
   
Appears On: Nuair Bha Mi Òg
   
Language: Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic)
   

Lyrics: English Translation:
   
Tha gillean òga tapaidh There are hardy young boys
An Gleann-Dail ag eirigh suas Being brought up in Glendale
'S cuid aca tha deònach And some of them are keen
Air an lòn thoirt thar a' chuan To make their livelihoods overseas
Ach eisdibh ris an òran But listen to this song
Rinn MacLeòid a chuir air chuairt Composed and circulated by MacLeod
'S bi cuimhn' agaibh an còmhnaidh air And you will always remember it
'Nuair sheolas sibh a Cluaidh When you sail from the Clyde
   
'Nuair theid thu òg tu aineolach When you join a vessel
Air bord air luingean seòl While young and ignorant
Bi cuisean dhuit cho aineaolach Things will seem so strange to you
'S nach àithnich thu gach ròp That you cannot identify every rope
Gur tric a theid do mhionnachadh They will often swear at you
'S do sgrios dh'an domhainn mhór And curse you to the deep ocean
Mas dìrich thu na cruinn aice Before you can climb her masts
Cho aotrom ris na h-eoin As nimbly as the birds
   
'Nuair thig an stoirm 'na cabhaig ort When a storm rises quickly
'S an fhairge cabh 'na glinn And the raging seas boil
Na tonnan uaine 'chlisgeas tu The green waves startle you
'Gam bristeadh mu do dhruim As they break about your back
Na slatan àrda cuireadh riut You must negotiate the high masts
Ged bhitheadh tu gle thìnn Although you are very ill
'S riut fhein bu tric a chanadh tu As you often tell yourself
Bu mhath a bhith air tìr The benefits of being on dry land
   
Chaidh mi troimh gach àmhghair anns I have experienced all afflictions
Gach ceàrn tha fo na neoil In every land under the sun
Cha b' urrainn dhaibh mo bhathadh They were unable to drown me
Cha robh rathad ac' air no dòigh They had neither will nor way
Nam biodh a leth a' nochd agam Tonight, if I possessed half
'S na chosg mi anns an òl Of what I have spent on drink
Gu faodainn suidhe socair ann I would be sitting quietly and peacefully
Fo losgan ri mo bheò For the rest of my life
   
Tha gillean òga tapaidh There are hardy young boys
An Gleann-Dail ag eirigh suas Being brought up in Glendale
'S cuid aca tha deònach And some of them are keen
Air an lòn thoirt thar a' chuan To make their livelihoods overseas
Ach eisdibh ris an òran But listen to this song
Rinn MacLeòid a chuir air chuairt Composed and circulated by MacLeod
'S bi cuimhn' agaibh an còmhnaidh air And you will always remember it
'Nuair sheolas sibh a Cluaidh When you sail from the Clyde