Another Gaelic song from Kathleen MacInness. This one a lament song for the sudden passing of a man named Donald Peter.

Oran Dhomhnaill Phadraig Lagain

‘S bochd an naidheachd a fhuair sinn
‘S a ghluais mi gu dàn
Dòmhnall Phàdraig, mo thruaighe
Thugadh bhuainn e le bàs
Cò aige bha dùil ris
‘S tu cho sùnndach ‘s cho slàn
Cha robh sinn a’ smaointinn
Gum biodh do shaoghal cho geàrr

Dh’fhàg thu bean agus pàistean
‘S iad a’ rànaich ‘s a’ caoidh
‘S goirt a’ bhuill’ ann an fhuair iad
‘S a ghuail ann an cridh
Cha tog fidheall no òran
Am bròn rinn an clì
‘S ged a bhiodh iad measg òigridh
Bidh gach sòlas gan dìth

Chì sinn tràghadh is lìonadh
Chì sinn ealtainn is sprèidh
Chì sinn gealach is grian
‘S reultan a’ lìonadh nan speur
Ach chan fhaic sinn gu sìorraidh
Coiseachd feur ann thu fhèin
Ach guidheam fois leat, a Chrìosdaidh
‘S beannachd Dhia ann leat fhèin

‘S math tha fios aig gach nàbaidh
Gu bheil sàr-dhuin’ gan dìth
‘S tu bha riatanach san àite
‘S a b’ fheàirrd’ sinn bhith leinn
Ach dhe sin, cha sheall bàs dha
Coingeis dhàsan cò thu
Bho leanabh bheag tha air mhàgail
Gu ruig àrd-rìgh air crùn

O, gur duilich, gur duilich
Gur duilich seo leinn
Andiugh bhith gad chàradh
An t-Hàllan san ùir
Sinn a’ faicinn do phàistean
‘S bean do ghràidh ‘s iad ri caoidh
‘S bidh thu ‘n cuimhne gu bràth dhaibh
‘S an cridhe làn dhut de ghaol

‘S bha thu ‘d dhuine bha fialaidh
Is rianail ri càch
Chan fhaca sinn riamh thu
Gun fhiamh ort le gàir’
Bha thu carthanntach fuasgailt’
Measg an t-sluaigh anns gach àit’
Gus an tàinig an fhuar-bhuill’
Thug bhuainn thu le bàs

‘S nam bitheadh tu aost’
Cha bhiodh a’ ghaoir seo cho geàrrt’
Ach am meadhan do shòlais
‘S tu led òigridh a’ fàs
Ruith an snaoim a bha cruaidh ann
‘S dh’fhalbh na duail às an tàth
Anns an t-sàcramaid uasal
Nach gabh fuasgladh gun bhàs

‘S gura tìm dhomh co-dhùnadh
‘S a bhith dùnadh an dàin
Bhon tha t’ uaighsa nist dùinte
‘S nach eil dùil riut gu bràth
Gu faic sinn do ghnùis-sa
Ann an dùthaich do ghràidh
Ach bidh sinn uile gad ionndrainn
Leis a’ chiùird bha thu ‘n sàs

English Translation
Dreadful news has moved me
To compose a song
Sadly, Donald Peter
Has been taken from us by death
Who would expect this
With a man so content and healthy
We did not think
Your life would be cut so short

You left a wife and children
Crying and grieving
They received a painful blow
Which seared their mind
No fiddle or song can lift
The sadness which weakened them
Being amongst other young folk
Will not comfort them

We will see full tide and low tide
Flight of birds and cattle
We will see the moon, the sun
And stars filling the sky
But we will never again see you
Walking amongst us
I wish you peace, a Chrìosdaidh
And may the blessing of God attend you

All neighbors know
That a good man has been lost
You were of great use in the community
We benefited from having you
But death does not consider this
Nor care who you are
From a crawling baby
To the highest of kings on a throne

Oh it is sad, sad
Sad for us
To be laying you to rest today
In the soil of Hallan
To witness your children
And your beloved wife grieving
You will be in their memory
And their hearts forever

You were a man who was hospitable
And good-tempered to others
We never saw you
Without a smile
You were open, kind and friendly
Amongst people everywhere
Until the time of the cruel blow
Which took you away

If you had been old
This pain would not feel so sharp
But in your prime
With your children growing up with you
The strong knot loosened
The strands came apart
From the highest sacrament
Which can only be broken by death

It’s time to conclude
And end this song
Your grave is now closed
And we expect you no more
We will not see you again
In your beloved homeland
We will all miss you
And the trade you practiced