This is a song written by poet Donald Macintyre. It documents the return of the Stone of Destiny (Stone of Scone) to Scotland , which was retrieved from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1950 by students. Here it is performed by Kathleen MacInnessand is found on her CD Summer Dawn.
Òran na Cloiche
A’ Chlach a bha mo sheanmhair
‘S mo sheanair oirre seanchas,
Air tilleadh mar a dh’fhalbh i
ghalghad a’ Chlach
‘S gur coma leam i ‘n Cearrara
An Calasraid no ‘n Calbhaigh
Cho fad’ ‘s a tha i ‘n Albainn
Nan garbhlaichean cas
‘S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha
Hilli um bo ruaig thu i hilli um bo ha
‘S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha
I just love the groove Kathleen MacInnes gets out of this traditional Scottish song.
A Mhic Iain Ic Sheumais
A Mhic Iain ‘ic Sheumais
Tha do sgeul air m’ aire
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
Latha Blàr a’ Chèithe
Bha feum air mo leanabh
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
Latha Blàr na Fèitheadh
Bha do lèine ballach
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
Bha fuil do chuirp uasail
Air uachdar an fhearainn
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
Bha mi fhìn ga sùghadh
Gus na thùch air m’ anail
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
Bha ‘n saighead na spreòd
‘N corp seòlta na glaine
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
Bu cheannard ron t-sluagh thu
Dol suas thro thìr aineoil
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
Cha do ghabh thu ‘m bristeadh
Làmh leigeadh a faladh
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
On latha thug thu ‘n cuan ort
Bha gruaim air na beannaibh
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
Bha snigh’ air na speuraibh
‘S bha na reulta galach
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
‘S càirdeach a Rìgh Leòdhais
Mo leòmhann glan, uasal
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
Mu Mhac Iain ‘ic Sheumais
Duine treubhach, smiorail
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
English Translation:
Oh son of John, son of James
Your tale is on my mind
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
The day of the battle of the Cèith
My child was needed
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
The day of the battle of the Fèith
Your shirt was bespattered
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
The blood of your noble body
Was all over the ground
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
I myself was drinking it
‘Til it made me gag
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
The arrow was protruding
From your shapely, pure body
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
You would be a leader of the people
Going up through unfamiliar land
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
You could not be broken
Despite the bloodshed
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
From the day you left for sea
Even the mountains were gloomy
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
The skies wept
The stars were tearful
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
My fine, noble lion
A relation of the King of Lewis
Air farail ail eò, air farail ail eò
My son of John, song of James
A valiant, vigorous man
Hi hò hi ri a bho hi èileadh
Hi ho hi rì a bhò ro a, hu o hi o
Song of the Isles 