Julie Fowlis
julie fowlis, “Bothan Àirigh am Bràigh Raithneach”
from: Uam, 2009
43 year-old Julie Fowlis was born and brought up in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland in a Gaelic speaking household. This song is from her third solo album Uam (Scottish Gaelic for From Me) that was released in 2009. Her voice and songs in Scottish Gaelic can be described as magical and gorgeous. She contributed two songs on the Pixar film, Brave released in 2012.
-Alan West-
“Gur e m’ anam is m’ eudail
Chaidh an-dè do Ghleann Garadh:
Fear na gruaig’ mar an t-òr
Is na pòig air bhlas meala.
O hi ò o hu ò, o hi ò o hu ò,
Hi rì ri ò hu eile
O hì ri ri ri ò gheallaibh ò
Is tu as fheàrr don tig deise
De na sheasadh air thalamh;
Is tu as fheàrr don tig culaidh
De na chunna mi dh’ fhearaibh.
Is tu as fheàrr don tig osan
Is bròg shocrach nam barrall:
Còta Lunnainneach dubh-ghorm,
Is bidh na crùintean ga cheannach.
An uair a ruigeadh tu ‘n fhèill
Is e mo ghèar-sa a thig dhachaigh;
Mo chriosan is mo chìre
Is mo stìomag chaol cheangail.
Thig mo chrios à Dùn Eideann
Is mo bhrèid à Dùn Chailleann,
Gheibh sinn crodh as a’ Mhaorainn
Agus caoraich à Gallaibh.
Is ann a bhios sinn ‘gan àrach
Air àirigh am Bràigh Raithneach.
Ann am bòthan an t-sùgraidh
Is gur e bu dùnadh dha barrach.
Bhiodh a’ chuthag ‘s an smùdan
A’ gabhail ciùil duinn air chrannaibh;
Bhiodh an damh donn ‘s a bhùireadh
Gar dùsgadh sa mhadainn.”
“A Shieling Bothie on theBraes of Rannoch
It’s my soul and my darling
who went to Glen Garry yesterday:
A man with golden locks
and kisses with the taste of honey.
O hi ò hu ò o hu ò
Hi rì ri ò hu eile
O hì ri ri ò gheallaibh ò
It is you who are the best suited by your clothes
of all who are on earth
It is you who are the best suited by your uniform
of all the men I have seen
It is you who are the best suited by your hose
and soft lace-up shoes,
a London-style dark green coat,
and crowns will buy it1
When you used to go to2 the fair
it was3 my stuff that came home4,
my belts and my combs
and my narrow headband with clips
My belt comes from Edinburgh
and my scarf from Dunkeld,
we get cattle from the Mearns
and sheep from the lowlands.
We are raising them
on a shieling in the Rannoch Hills
in a bothie full of fun
which was closed in with treetops
The cuckoo and the rock-dove used to
make music for us on the branches
and the brown stag and its bellowing
used to wake us in the morning.
”
Julie is part of a fascinating Celtic band named Spell Songs, You can explore them at https://www.thelostwords.org/index.php
Debut lp ,2019