An Eala Bhàn
An Eala Bhàn ("The White Swan") is a Scottish Gaelic love song composed by Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna during the Battle of the Somme. It is addressed to Magaidh NicLeòid (Maggie MacLeod), his sweetheart at the time of World War I.
An Eala Bhàn is considered one of the most popular Scottish Gaelic songs composed during the 20th century. In recent years, it has been recorded by artists as diverse as Calum Kennedy, Donnie Munro, Capercaillie, and Julie Fowlis.
Lyrics
- 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 loch, 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 nach 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;
- Ach 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 ort
- 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.
- Ach ma thig an 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 bhàn -
- 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.
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- Sad I consider my condition
- With my heart engaged with sorrow
- From the very time that I left
- The high bens of the mist
- The little glens of dalliance
- Of the lochs, the bays and the forelands
- And the white swan dwelling there
- Whom I daily pursue.
- O Maggie, don't be sad
- Love, if I should die -
- Who among men
- Endures eternally?
- We are all only on a journey
- Like flowers in the deserted cattle fold
- That the year's wind and rain will bring down
- And that the sun cannot raise.
- All the ground around me
- Is like hail in the heavens;
- With the shells exploding -
- I am blinded by smoke:
- My ears are deafened
- By the roar of the cannon;
- But despite the savagery of the moment
- My thoughts are on the girl called MacLeod.
- Crouched in the trenches
- My mind is fixed on you, love;
- In sleep I dream of you
- I am not fated to survive;
- My spirit is filled
- With a surfeit of longing
- And my hair once so auburn
- Is now almost white.
- But if it should happen
- That I am killed in France
- And laid in the grave
- As thousands are already,
- My blessings go with the maiden,
- So noble and fair.
- May her every day be free of care,
- And her life a source of pride.
- Goodnight to you, love
- In your warm, sweet-smelling bed;
- May you have peaceful sleep and afterwards
- May you waken healthy and in good spirits.
- I am here in the cold trench
- With the clamour of death in my ears
- With no hope of returning victorious-
- The ocean is too wide to swim.
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External links
Video