Ailein Duinn

Karen Matheson singing Ailein Duinn, probably recognizable to some of you as the song from the film Rob Roy.

Ailein Duinn

Gura mise tha fo éislean
Moch sa mhaduinn is mi ‘g éirigh

Sèist:
Ò hì shiùbhlainn leat
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì
Hì ri bhò hò rinn o ho
Ailein Duinn, ò hì shiubhlainn leat

Ma ‘s e ‘n cluasag dhut a’ ghaineamh
Ma ‘s e leabaidh dhut an fheamainn

Ma ‘s e ‘n t-iasg do choinnlean geala
Ma ‘s e na ròin do luchd-faire

Dh’òlainn deoch ge b’ oil le càch e
De dh’fhuil do choim ‘s tu ‘n déidh do bhathadh

English

How sorrowful I am
Early in the morning rising

Chorus (after each verse):
Ò hì, I would go with thee
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì
Hì ri bhò hò rinn o ho
Brown-haired Alan, ò hì, I would go with thee

If it is thy pillow the sand
If it is thy bed the seaweed

If it is the fish thy candles bright
If it is the seals thy watchmen

I would drink, though all would abhor it
Of thy heart’s blood after thy drowning