Ailein Duinn

Allan Morrison was a sea captain from the isle of Lewis. In the spring of 1788 he left Stornoway to go to Scalpay, Harris, where he was to marry Annie Campbell. Unfortunately they sailed into a storm and all the crew sank with the vessel. This is the lament she composed.

The broken-hearted Annie wasted away through grief and died a few months afterward. Her body was washed ashore near where her fiance's was found.

Ailein Duinn

Gura mise tha fo éislean,
Moch 's a' mhadainn is mi 'g éirigh

Séist
Ò hì shiùbhlainn leat,
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì,
Hì ri bhò hò rionn o ho,
Ailein duinn,
ò hì shiùbhlainn leat.

Ma 's e cluasag dhut a' ghainneamh,
Ma 's e leabaidh dhut an fheamainn

Sèist

Ma 's e 'n t-iasg do choinnlean geala,
Ma 's e na ròin do luchd-faire

Sèist

Dh'òlainn deoch ge boil le càch e,
De dh'fhuil do choim 's tu 'n déidh do bhathadh

Sèist

Brown-haired Alan

How sorrowful I am
When I rise early in the morning

Chorus
Ò hì I would walk with you.
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì,
Hì ri bhò hò rionn o ho,
Brown-haired Alan, Ò hì,
I would walk with you

If the sand be your pillow,
If the seaweed be your bed

Chorus

If the fish are your candles bright,
If the seals are your watchmen

Chorus

I would take a drink, though everyone would be scandalised,
Of your heart's blood after you were drowned.

Chorus

Other recordings of this song:

This song can be heard on the following albums:

Links

Other versions of this song
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/murray/ailean.htm
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/capercaillie/ailein.htm

Other songs in Scottish Gaelic | Songs in other languages

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