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Songs Of Gaelic Scotland

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There is quite literally a lifetime of enjoyment in this book for lovers of Scotland, poetry, history and Gaelic song.
Those of us who love the Gaelic in these far shores of America and other places certainly are exiles to some degree but also custodians of what we consider a sacred relic and an essential part of our splendid ancient heritage such as the MIST-COVERED MOUNTAINS (played at JFK's funeral)

So here are some songs of YOUNG HEROES ( òglach):
Tha mi'n dùil, tha mi'n dùil I expect, I expect
Tha mi'n dùil-sa bhith tilleadh I expect to return
Dh'ionnsaigh Dùthaich MhicLèoid To the land of Macleod
Far an òg robh mi mire Where I played when I was young

Fhuair sinn litrichean o'n rìgh We got the letters from the king
Gus sinn fhìn dhèanamh ullamh So that we could prepare
Los a dhol a-null do'n Fhraing To go over to France
A chur braing 'san fhear-mhillidh To upset the destroyer (Boney; Napoleon though in another context it could be Hitler as well)

Nuair a chuir iad sinn air tìr When they put us ashore
A-measg shìobain is murain Among the waves and the sea-bent
Thug sinn batal air an tràigh We fought a battle on the beach
'S gun d'rinn pàirt againn fuireach And some of us remained

Fhir a dh'imicheas do'n Iar You who travel to the West
Ged robh bliadhna mun ruig thu Though it were a year before you arrive
Thoir an t-soiridh seo do m'ghràdh Bring this greeting to my loved one
"Ma is slàn mi gun tig mi" "If I am alive, I will come"

Tha mi'n dùil, tha mi'n dùil I expect, I expect
Tha mi'n dùil-sa bhith tilleadh I expect to return
Dh'ionnsaigh Dùthaich MhicLèoid To the land of Macleod
Far an òg robh mi mire Where I played when I was young

It is interesting to compare the tone of the old Highland song to this more modern Scots variation by Roddy MacMillan which is quite powerful.
I Will Go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When the King's son came along
And called us all together
Sayin', Brave Highland men
Will you fight for my father?
I will go, I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

I've a buckle on my belt
A sword in my scabbard
A red coat on my back
And a shillin' in my pocket
I will go, I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When they brought us all on board
The lasses were singin'
But the tears came to their eyes
When the bells started ringin'
I will go, I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When we landed on the shore
And saw the foreign heather
We knew that some would fall
And would lie there forever
I will go, I will go


Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go

When we came back to the glen
The winter was coming
Our goods lay in the snow
And our houses were burnin'
I will go... I will go

Chorus

I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
Tae the land o' MacLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go