E HoròThis song recounts an immigrant’s lament, in
simple but poignant poetry, on the numbing experience of
Gaels compelled to leave Scotland and settle in the New
World. The verses convey potent impressions of the
conditions of starving refugee Highlanders. Imagine the
dismay of a people from treeless islands when they
encountered the overwhelming Canadian forest. The words
here are edited from the singing of North Shore gaelic
singer Seògan (John Shaw) of Indian Brook (Abhainn a’
Chùbair). (An Immigrant’s Lament)
É ho rò the subject of my thoughts
Great tonight is my mourning
ill ò I love you deeply
Although I didn’t win you for myself 1. When I stand in the doorway, I see
the forest above my head. My eyes begin to weep; my
courage is overwhelmed. 2. I had three brothers who I will
forever recount. Its a pity that I wasn’t at the quay
when they bid us farewell. 3. When we arrived at the Table, my
entire family was there: my sister and brother-in-law;
without a strip of clothing on their backs. 4. A scraped cow’s hide fixed on my
back and I was starving with the hue of death coming
over my face. 5. If I had a creel and a sickle, the
low seaweed and my own boat, my children wouldn’t be
eating gruel and I wouldn’t be oppressed by this
miserable land. Drums: Geoff Arsenault
Keyboards: James Gray
Bagpipes: Scott Long
Backup Vocals: Laurel MacDonald
Bass: Rachel Melas
Guitars: Rob Piltch, “Toob”
Percussion: Philip Strong |