Fear A' Bhàta or The Boatman

Line
Melody - Seq. by Barry Taylor
Line

English translation by Lachlan MacBean

'S tric mi sealltuinn o'n chnoc a's àirde,
Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear a'bhàta;
An tig thu 'n diugh, no 'n tig thu màireach
'S mar tig thu idir, gur truagh a tà mi.
Séist(Chorus):
|: Fear a' bhàta, na hóro éile :|
Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro éile
Mo shoraidh slàn dhuit's gach àit' an téid thu!

2. Tha mo chrìdhe-sa briste, brùite;
S'tric na deòir a'ruidh o m' shùilean;
An tig thu'n nochd, na 'm bi mo dhùil riut,
Na 'n dùin mi 'n dorus, le osna thùrsaich?
Séist:

3. 'S tric mi foighneachd de luchd 'nam bàta,
Am faic iad thu, na 'm bheil thu sàbhailt;
Ach 's ann a tha gach aon diubh 'g ràitinn,
Gur gòrach mise ma thug mi gràdh dhuit.
Séist:

4. Gheall mo leannan domh gun do 'n t-sìoda,
Gheall e sud agus breacan rìomhach;
Fainn' òir anns am faicinn 'ìomhaigh;
Ach 's eagal leam gun dean e dì-chuimhn'.
Séist:

5. Cha'n eil baile beag 's am bì thu,
Nach tàmh thu greis ann, a chur do sgios dhiot;
Bheir thu làmh air do leabhar rìomhach,
A ghabhail dhuanag 's a bhuaireadh nionag.
Séist:

6. Ged a thu'irt iad gun robh thu aotrom,
Cha do lughdaich sud mo ghaol ort;
Bidh tu m' aisling anns an oidhche,
'Us anns a' mhadainn bidh mi 'gad fhoighneachd.
Séist:

7. Thug mi gaol dhut, 's cha'n fhaod mi àicheadh;
Cha ghaol bliadhna, 's cha ghaol ràidhe;
Ach gaol a thòisich 'n uair bha mi m'phàisdein,
'S nach searg a chaoidh, gus an claoidh am bàs mi.
Séist:

8. Tha mo chàirdean gu tric ag ìnnseadh,
Gum feum mi d'aogas a leig' air dì-chuimhn';
Ach tha 'n comhairle dhomh cho diamhain;
'S bhi tilleadh mara 's i tabhairt lionaidh.
Séist:

9. Tha mo chriosan air dol an airde,
Cha'n ann bho fhidhleir, na bho chlàrsair;
Ach bho stiùireadair a bhàta--
'S mur tig thu dhachaigh, gur truagh mar tha mi.
Séist:

10. Bi'dh mi tuille tùrsach, déurach,
Mar eala bhàn 's i an déighs a réubadh;
Guileag bàis aic' air lochan féurach,
'Us cach gu léir an déis a tréigeadh.
Séist:

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.
Chorus:
|: O, my boatman, na horo aila, :|
O, my boatman, na horo aila,
May joy await thee where'er thou sailest.

2. Broken-hearted, I droop and languish,
And frequent tears show mg bosom's anguish;
Shall I expect thee tonight to cheer me?
Or close the door, sighing, sad and weary.
Chorus:

3. From passing boatmen I'd fain discover
If they have heard of or seen my lover;
They never tell me - I'm only chided,
And told my heart has been sore misguided.
Chorus:

4. My lover promised to bring his lady
A silken gown and a tartan plaidie,
A ring of gold which would show his semblance
But, ah! I fear me for his remembrance.
Chorus:

5. That thou'rt a rover my friends have told me,
But not the less to my heart I hold thee;
And every night in my dream I see thee,
And still at dawn will the visions flee me.
Chorus:

6. I may not hide it - my heart's devotion
Is not a season's brief emotion;
Thy love in childhood began to seize me
And ne'er shall fade until death release me.
Chorus:

7. My friends oft tell me that I must sever
All thoughts of thee from my heart forever;
Their words are idle - my passions, swelling,
Untamed as ocean, can brook no quelling.
Chorus:

8. My heart is weary with ceaseless wailing,
Like wounded swan when her strength is failing
Her notes of anguish the lake awaken,
By all her comrades at last forsaken.
Chorus:

Line

| Scottish Songs Index | Home Page Robokopp |Home Page Musica|
Line