The Gaelic words of this song were written in 1856 by John Cameron of Ballachulish, Scotland, although the title was originally "Dùil ri Baile Chaolais fhaicinn" (Hoping to see Ballachulish), and it was set to an air adapted from the English tune "Johnny stays long at the Fair". It was a favorite of King George VI and was played at his funeral and was also played as a lament for President John F. Kennedy's funeral.
I learnt this song from Christine Primrose in the Gaelic Song class at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye in 2008.
Séist
O chì, chì mi na mòr-bheanna
O chì, chì mi na còrr-bheanna
O chì, chì mi na coireachan
Chì mi na sgoran fo cheò
Chì mi gun dàil an t-àite san d'rugadh mi
Cuirear orm fàilte sa chànain a thuigeas mi
Gheibh mi ann aoidh agus gràdh nuair a ruigeam
Nach reicinn air tunnachan òir
Sèist
Chì mi na coilltean, chì mi na doireachan
Chì mi ann màghan bàna is toraiche
Chì mi na féidh air làr nan coireachan
Falaicht' an trusgan de cheò
Sèist
Beanntaichean àrda is àillidh leacainnean
Sluagh ann an còmhnuidh is còire cleachdainnean
'S aotrom mo cheum a' leum g'am faicinn
Is fanaidh mi tacan le deòin
Sèist
Chorus
Oh, I see, I see the great mountains
Oh, I see, I see the lofty mountains
Oh, I see, I see the corries
I see the peaks beneath the mist
I see, straight away, the place of my birth
I will be welcomed in a language which I understand
I will receive hospitality and love when I reach there
That I would not trade for a ton of gold
Chorus
I see woods there, I see thickets there
I see fair, fertile fields there
I see the deer on the ground of the corries
Shrouded in a garment of mist
Chorus
High moutains with lovely slopes
Folk there who are always kind
Light is my step when I go bounding to see them
And I will willingly remain there for a long while
Chorus
Recordings of this song:
This song can also be heard on the following albums:
Another version of Chì mi na mórbheanna
http://ingeb.org/songs/mistcovd.html
The sheet music for this song
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/info/RRTuneBk/gettune/00000816.html
Don't Cry in Your Sleep - a song set to the same tune with words by Jim McLean
http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk/songs/texts/hushhush.html
Other songs in Scottish Gaelic | Songs in other languages
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