Fear a' Bhàta

Fear a' Bhàta (translated The boatman) is a Scots Gaelic song from the late 18th century, written by an unknown author pining for her beloved, a fisherman at sea. The song captures the emotions that she endured.

Lyrics

There are many versions of the lyrics and of the melody:

Gaelic verses Séist: Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro eile Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro eile Fhir a' bhàta, na hóro eile Mo shoraidh slàn leat 's gach àit' an téid thu 'S tric mi sealltainn on chnoc as àirde Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear a' bhàta An tig thu 'n-diugh na 'n tig thu màireach 'S mar tig thu idir gur truagh a ta mi Tha mo chridhe-sa briste brùite 'S tric na deòir a ruith o m' shùilean An tig thu nochd na 'm bi mo dhùil riut Na 'n dùin mi 'n doras le osna thùrsaich? 'S tric mi faighneachd de luchd nam bàta Am fac' iad thu na 'm bheil thu sàbhailt Ach 's ann a tha gach aon dhiubh 'g ràitinn Gur gòrach mise ma thug mi gràdh dhut Gheall mo leannan dhomh gùn dhen t-sìoda Gheall e siud agus breacan rìomhach Fàinn' òir anns am faicinn ìomhaigh Ach 's eagal leam gun dèan e dìochuimhn' Cha'n eil baile beag sam bi thu Nach tamh thu greis ann a chuir do sgios diot Bheir thu lamh air do leabhar riamhach Ghabhail dhuanag, 's a bhuaireadh nianag Ged a thuirt iad gun robh thu aotrom Cha do lughdaich siud mo ghaol ort Bidh tu m' aisling anns an oidhche Is anns a' mhadainn bidh mi 'gad fhaighneachd Thug mi gaol dhut 's chan fhaod mi àicheadh Cha ghaol bliadhna 's cha ghaol ràithe Ach gaol a thòisich nuair bha mi 'm phàiste 'S nach searg a chaoidh gus an claoidh am bàs mi Tha mo chàirdean gu tric ag innseadh Gum feum mi d' aogas a leig' air dìochuimhn' Ach tha 'n comhairle dhomh cho dìomhain 'S bi tilleadh mara 's i toirt lìonaidh Tha mo chriosan air dol an airde Cha'n ann o fhidhlair, na o chlarsair Ach o stiuireadair a bhata 'S mur tig thu dhathigh, s' truagh mar tha mi Bidh mi tuille tùrsach deurach Mar eala bhàn 's i an dèidh a reubadh Guileag bàis aic' air lochan feurach Is càch gu lèir an dèidh a trèigeadh[1]

English translation Chorus (after each verse): O Boatman, no one else O Boatman, no one else O Boatman, no one else My farewell to you wherever you go I often look from the highest hill That I might see my boatman Will you come tonight, or will you come tomorrow Oh sorry will I be if you do not come at all My heart is broken, bruised Often tears are running down from my eyes Will you come tonight, or will I wait up for you Or close the door with a sad sigh? I often ask of the boatmen If they have seen you, if you are safe But they all tell me That I was foolish if I gave you love. My darling promised me a gown of silk That and a fine tartan A golden ring in which I'd see a likeness But I fear that he shall forget. There is no small town where you will be Don't you stay there for a while to relieve your fatigue You will touch your eternal book You will take a child, and its temptation will be a child Although they said you were flighty That did not lessen my love for you You are in my dreams at night And in the morning I ask for you. I gave you love and cannot deny It's not love that lasts a year or a season But a love that began when I was a child And that will not wither until death do take me. My friends say often That I must forget your image But their counsel is as unfathomable to me As is the returning tide. My belts have risen Not from a fiddler, nor from a harpist But from a conductor of a stick And if you don't come home, I'm miserable. I am all too sad and tearful Like a white swan that has been torn Sounding her death-call on a small grassy loch Having been forsaken by all.

Origin

According to legend, the poem was written by Sìne NicFhionnlaigh (Jean Finlayson) of Tong who was courting a young fisherman from Uig, Dòmhnall MacRath. In some versions of the legend they were married not long after she composed the song.^[2][3] Contemporary scholars and 19th century sources describe the author of the poem as unknown.^[4][5]

Music

Fear a' Bhàta is written in the unusual time signature of 9/8, and the piece is taken in the key of Eb Major, at a pace of around 90bpm, although many artists take the piece at a faster pace, simplifying the time signature for ease. ^[6]

See also

• Ailein duinn
• Chì mi na mòrbheanna
• Gaelic music