A Mhòrag’s na Horo Gheallaidh

A Mhòrag bheag a’ chùil riomhaich
Dheanainn-sa do chìr a cheannach

A Mhòrag bheag a’ chùil dualaich
‘S tric do luaidh a’ tighinn air m’aire

Mis’ amuigh air luing a’ seòladh
‘S mi gun dòigh air tighinn gu baile

An cuimhne leat an oidhche bha sinn
‘S a’ luing bhàin air bhàrr na mara

An oidhche sin a chaidh ar fuadach
Thànaig a’ mhuir mhùr ‘na gleannaibh

‘S truagh a Rìgh nach ann a bha mi
‘N ciste-laigh nam bòrdan tana

Bhon a chunna mi na coinnlean
Ag gabhail araoir air do bhanais

Nuair dheidheadh tu amach a dh’fhia’chadh
Bu trom do thriall bhon a’ bhaile

Le d’ghunna leathann ‘s le d’fhùdar
le do ghille ‘s cù ‘na dheannamh

Leagadh tu ‘n damh donn a’ bhùirein
‘s fhuil ‘ga thùcadh ‘s e gun anail

Cha leiginn thu chrò nan caorach
Air eagal d’aodach a shalach

Cha leiginn thu chrò nan gobhar
No bhleoghainn a’ chruidh as t-earrach

Mi air chùl nam beanntan àrda
Cha chluinn mo mhàthair mo ghearain

A Mhòrag bheag nighean an Leòdaich
Airson a dheanainn dòrtadh faladh

A Mhòrag bheag à tìr nan Leòdach
Dh’òlainn do dheoch-slàint’ a dh’aindheoin

A popular milling song on Cape Breton’s North Shore and in the Framboise,
Catalone area. Its chorus’s strong beat and melody are complimented by
numerous verses that present images of seafaring, the hunt, romance and
lost love. Mòrag was a code name for Prince Charles during the Jacobite
Uprisings. Songs set to this air were composed by the famous Gaelic Bard
Alastair mac Mhaighstir Alastair and Donnchadh Bàn. Verses here were
selected from taped renditions sung on the North Shore, most notably that
of the late Tomaidh Peigi Thòmais (Tommy Peggy MacDonald). Recorded
settings of A Mhòrag ‘s na hò ro gheallaidh appear on Tocher’s Òrain le
Carstìona Sheadha and B&R Enterprises A Tribute to the North Shore Gaelic
Singers.

Vocals: Janet Buchanan, Michelle Smith, Bonnie Thompson, Mary Jane Lamond
Recorded by:Paul MacDonald at the Breton Cove Hall, Nova Scotia.

A Mhòrag’s na Horo Gheallaidh

Chorus: Ò ì
og ì ò
A Mhòrag ‘s na horò gheallaidh
Ò ì og ì ò

O little Sarah of the lovely locks, I would buy you a
comb.

O little Sarah of the curled tresses, I often think
of you with affection.

I am out sailing on the great ship with no way to
return home.

Do you remember the night we were on board the white
sailed ship on the surface of the sea.

That was the night we were driven off course by the
sea that rose in billows.

It’s a pity that I wasn’t in the coffin of narrow
boards,

Since I saw the candles blazing at your wedding
banquet.

When you went on the hunt, heavy your procession from
the village.

With your slender barrelled gun, powder, attendant
and bounding dog.

You would kill the rutting brown stag, leaving him
breathless and choked on his blood.

I would not permit you to go to the sheep pen for
fear you would soil you clothing.

I would not permit you to go to the goat pen, or to
milk the cows at springtime.

I am on the backside of the high mountains. My mother
can’t hear my complaint.

O Little Sarah, daughter of the MacLeod chief for
whom I would spill blood.

O little Sarah from the land of the MacLeods, I would
drink your toast notwithstanding.

A popular milling song on Cape Breton’s North
Shore and in the Framboise, Catalone area. Its chorus’s
strong beat and melody are complimented by numerous
verses that present images of seafaring, the hunt,
romance and lost love. Mòrag was a code name for Prince
Charles during the Jacobite Uprisings. Songs set to this
air were composed by the famous Gaelic Bard Alastair mac
Mhaighstir Alastair and Donnchadh Bàn. Verses here were
selected from taped renditions sung on the North Shore,
most notably that of the late Tomaidh Peigi Thòmais
(Tommy Peggy MacDonald). Recorded settings of A Mhòrag
‘s na hò ro gheallaidh appear on Tocher’s Òrain le
Carstìona Sheadha and B&R Enterprises A Tribute to the
North Shore Gaelic Singers.

Vocals: Janet Buchanan, Michelle Smith, Bonnie Thompson,
Mary Jane Lamond
Recorded by:Paul MacDonald at the Breton Cove Hall, Nova
Scotia.