Na Hù O Hò - Traditional

Pierre Castonguay is sharing his favorite gaelic traditional song by the marvelous Fiona Kernnedy. This traditional song is also known with the title "Nach Truagh Leat mi 's tu'n Eirinn." The entire chorus (Na hù o hì na hù o hò, Hù o-o ù o èile, Na hù o hì na hù o hò) is made of sylallables except for the last sentence, Nach truagh leat mi 's tu'n Eirinn, which means something like "Aren't I pitiful with you in Ireland"


Scottish Gaelic Version:

Na hù o hò

Na hù o hì na hù o hò
Hù o-o ù o èile
Na hù o hì na hù o hò
Nach truagh leat mi 's tu'n Eirinn.

'S ann their iad rium on chaidh thu null
Gum bi thu tric aig Feilltean
'S gum bi thu cuspaireachd le mùirn
Ri Màili ruadh an Eirinn.

Ged sheòladh tu air feadh a chuain
'S ged ruigeadh tu an Eiphit
Cha threiginn thu air sgàth do chliù
'S cha toirinn gèill do bhreugan.

O nach robh agam sgiathan caol
Gun siùbhlainn thar na slèibhtean
'S gu seinnin-sa mo dhuanag gaoil
Ri fear tha tàmh an Eirinn.

O till a rùin gu Cnoc-an-Dùin
Far 'n robh sinn òg is aoibhneach
Far 'n robh sinn cridheil, ceòlmhor ciùin
Mar smeòraichean nan coilltean.

English Translation:

What people tell me since you went over
is that you frequently attend festivals
and that you happily pursue
red-haired May in Ireland.

Even if you were to sail across oceans
and though you would reach Egypt
I would not desert you because of your reputation
and I would not submit to lies (about you).

Oh if only I had slender wings
I would travel across the hills
and I would sing my love song
to the one who resides in Ireland.

Oh please return, my love, to Cnoc-an-Duin
where we were once young and carefree
where we were happy, full of music and content
like the thrushes in the forest.

Answer to Steve Dangle's Week Off