Gaelic and Scots Culture on Rob McCrae's Web Site

My Shop

Gaelic and Scots Culture on Rob McCrae's Web Site

Lyrics:

Sèist:
Fhir a'bhàta, na ho ro eile
Fhir a'bhàta, na ho ro eile
Fhir a'bhàta, na ho ro eile
Mo shoraigh slàn leat 's gach àit'an téid thu

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

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

English Translation:

Chorus (after each verse):
Oh my boatman, na ho ro eile
Oh my boatman, na ho ro eile
Oh my boatman, na ho ro eile
May joy await thee where e'er thou sailest

I climb the mountain and scan the ocean
For thee, my boatman, with fond devotion
When shall I see thee? Today? Tomorrow?
Oh do not leave me in lonely sorrow

My heart is broken, bruised
Often tears are running down my cheeks
Will you come tonight, or will I wait up for you
But close the door, sighing heavily?

Fear a' Bhàta is a Scottish Gaelic song from the late 18th Century. Although this song is usually given as "traditional" it was actually composed in the late 1700s by Jane Finlayson (Sìne NicFhionnlaigh) of Tong, Lewis for a young Uig fisherman, Donald MacRae (Dòmhnall MacRath). The part of this story which is rarely told is that they married each other sometime after she wrote the song.
The song appears in The Scottish Gael by James Logan, first published 1831.

THE VIDEO: An atmospheric,and probably the best, rendition of this beautiful song, sung by Capercaillie's KAREN MATHESON. This is from the February 2009 concert by Capercaillie at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, broadcast by BBC Alba, the BBC's Gaelic language TV channel (on SKY channel 142).