Nach Till Thu Dhòmhnaill? – Mary Jane Lamond

[read english version]

Fonn: Ó a iù nach till thu Dhòmhnaill ?
Ò a hì nach till thu Dhòmhnaill ?
Ó a iù nach till thu Dhòmhnaill ?

Là dhomh ‘s mi ‘siubhal a’ mhonaidh

Có thachair rium ach Dòmhnall

Thòisich sinn air beadradh spòrsail

Thànaig am beadradh dhuinn gu dòruinn

Bhagair e mo léin’ a shròiceadh

Chuir e falt mo chinn fo bhrògan

Thug e sgian bheag às a phòcaid

Cha b’e siod a gheall thu Dhòmhnaill

Ach réiteach agus banais ‘s pòsadh.

An anonymous worksong from Scotland, this is a vivid example
of a woman’s
experience shared in song while at work. Its words give the distraught
perspective of a woman who seems to have been led to believe by her
suitor that he was prepared to marry her. Instead, following a playful flirtation,
he violently forced himself on her in the moor. I learned this from
the singing
of the late Dr.J.D. Nelson MacDonald of Grand River (An Abhainn Mhòr)
as
recorded by Helen Creighton.

Electric Guitars: Brad Davidge, John Gzowski
Lap Steel Guitar/Fretless Bass : David Woodhead
Acoustic Guitar: Phil Strong
Bass: Ed Woodsworth
Percussion: Geoff Arsenault
Recorded at : Soundpark Studios (Irish Cove, N.S.) by Jamie Foulds
and
Somnambulab by Phil Strong

Nach Till Thu Dhòmhnaill?

Chorus: Ò a iù will you not return
Donald?
Ò a hì will you not return Donald?
Ò a iù will you not return Donald?

One day as I rambled the moor.

Whom did I happen upon but Donald.

We began to flirt playfully.

Our flirting came to grief.

He threatened to tear my shift to
shreds.

He trampled the hair of my head under
his shoes.

He took a small knife from his pocket.

That wasn’t what you promised me
Donald.

But instead a betrothal, marriage
banquet and wedding.

An anonymous worksong from Scotland, this is a
vivid example of a woman’s experience shared in song
while at work. Its words give the distraught perspective
of a woman who seems to have been led to believe by her
suitor that he was prepared to marry her. Instead,
following a playful flirtation, he violently forced
himself on her in the moor. I learned this from the
singing of the late Dr.J.D. Nelson MacDonald of Grand
River (An Abhainn Mhòr) as recorded by Helen Creighton.