Julie Fowlis - Moladh Uibhist

Many photos in this piece are taken from:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/kasia-d/art/6602696-isle-of-uist-my-beloved-e...

with thanks to the photographer.

From her album 'Mar a tha mo chridhe'.

Julie says: This song was composed by the late Robert MacKay of North Uist (Bàrd Iollaraigh) and praises the poet's island. It is also knowsn as 'S e mise bhith fada bho thir m'eòlais or Being far from the land I know. I learned this song from the well known and well respected singer Hugh Matheson (Uisdean Sheumais), from Baleshare. Uisdean and his wife Màiri were our only neighbours whilst growing up in Uist and I would see them often. Taing dhuibh airson ur cuideachadh agus airson a' Ghàidhlig 's an t-seinn agam à bhrosnachadh.

Lyrics: Moladh Uibhist

'S e mis' bhith fada bho thìr m' eòlais
Chuir le bròn gu gluasad mi
Bhon tha an cianalas gam leòn
Gun eòlaich a bhith mun cuairt orm
Feuchaidh mi ri teud mo bheòil
An cuir i 'n òrdugh duanag dhomh
Air Uibhist ghleannach, ghorm an fheòir
'S air pàirt de dhòigh an t-sluaigh a th' ann

Mullach Langais nuair a chì mi
Bheir i inntinn shuaimhneach dhomh
'S aotrom a ghearras mi sìnteag
Dìreadh ris a' ghualainn aic'
Nochdadh sìos ri tìr an aigh
'S ri taighean blàth an t-sluaigh a th' ann
'S ri Eilean Mhorghaidh air an tràigh
Ged 's tric muir-làn 'ga chuartachadh

'M Paibeil far an do bhlais mi tràth
Air bàidh na màthair bhuanghradhaich
Far am fàs an t-eòrna 's fheàrr
Gu diasach, gràinneach, dualanach
Dh'àraich iomadh laoch gun sgàig
'S na bàird a b' fheàrr a chuala sinn
Bidh e tighinn gum chuimhne ghnàth
Gach coibhneas bàidh a fhuair mi ann

Bu bhrèagha sealladh sa mhìos Mhàigh
Na raontan làn de ghruagaichean
Air an aghaidh fiamh a' ghàire
'S air an gàirdean buaraichean
Dol dhan bhuailidh leis na laoigh
Nì geum cho binn 's a chuala sinn
An crodh gam freagairt aig a' chuidh'
'S gum b' àrd a chluinnte nuallraich iad

An Cille Mhoire 'n am an òrduigh
'S an àm nam bòrd a chuartachadh
Dhìreamaid ri leathad Phòil
'S bhiodh sealladh brònach, truasal ann
Sean is òg a' sileadh dheòir
Air tolmain bhòidheach uainbhratach
'S a' smaointinn air luchd-dàimh nach beò
Bhith siud fo 'n fhòd air fuarachadh

Mnathan ciatach, tosdach, ciallach
Modhail, rianail, luathlamhach
Càite nise 'n cualas riamh
A' spìocaireachd ri fuaite riu'?
'S minig a thaisbean iad am fialachd
'S iomadh dhìomh le truacantas
Gur tric thug iad don acrach biadh
Is àite-dìon bhon fhuachd thoirt dha

Tìr mo dhaoine, tìr mo ghràidh
Ged theireadh càch gur duanaidh i
Cha do dhealraich grian air àite
Leth cho àlainn snuadh rithe
'S ged nach fhaicear innte craobh
Gu faicear fraoch is luachair innt'
Agus muran dubhghorm na raon
'S iad taobh ri taobh gu cuaileanach

Tha cuid sliabh mar bha iad riamh
Gu fasgach, feurach, fuaranach
Cnocach, gleannach, sgorach, grianach
Lusach, riasgach, cruachanach
Far am faigh a' chaora dìol
'S gun èis gum biadh i h-uan orra
'S bheir iad daonnan don fhiadh
A dheoch, a bhiadh, 's a chluasagan

Tha 'n sealladh mu dheireadh den ghrèin
'S i 'n dèidh gach speur a chuartachadh
Air fhaicinn na mo dhùthaich fhèin
'S i moch ag èirigh suas oirre
Crìochnaichidh mi 'n diugh mo sgeul
'S e tìm a ghèill san uair seo dhomh
'S ged gheibhinn dusan saoghal fèidh
Cha chuir mi 'n cèill gach buaidh a th' oirr'

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Julie
• Fowlis
• Uibhist
• Uist
• Scottish
• Scotland
• Gaelic
• Gaidhlig
• Folk
• Traditional
• song

[animalunaris]

9

The last glimpse of the sun

After it has circled the whole sky

May be seen from my land

Just before it rises again on it

I must cut short my account for today

Since my time has gone

And even if I lived twelve times as long as a stag

I could not recount all the beauties of Uist

[animalunaris]

8

Its sides are as they ever were

Sheltered and grassy and full of springs

With knolls and glens and crevices

Sunny, covered with herbage, tussocky and humped

Hillsides where the sheep finds abundance

And where she can feed her lamb without stint

Hillsides that give food and drink

And pillows to the deer



[animalunaris]

7 Land of my people, land of my love Although others might say it is a dreary land The sun has never shone On a place half as beautiful And though it is treeless There are heather and rushes And the dark-green bent grass of the fields there Growing in tresses side by side

[animalunaris]

6

Excellent, sensible, reserved women

Courteous, orderly, skillful

Could it be said that niggardliness

Was ever found in them?

Often did they show their generosity

In many an act of kindness

Often did they give food to the hungry

And a warm place to shelter in

[animalunaris]

5

In Kilmuir at Communion time

When the Communion tables are being served

We would climb up Paul's slope

And there would be a sad and sorrowful sight

Young and old weeping

On beautiful hillocks, carpeted in green

Thinking of loved ones no longer living

Lying there cold in the ground

[animalunaris]

4 In the month of May, it was a beautiful sight To see the fields Full of smiling girls With spancels on their arms Going to the cattle pen with the calves Who call most sweetly And to hear the great lowing of the cows At the fold as they answered them

[ScreachogChoille]

Beautiful song and beautiful photos. Thanks for posting it!

[UISTMAN59]

Sound is not too great but well worth posting the song anyway. Many thanks.

[marconatrix]

Tha rudeigin cearr leas a' fhuaim an seo. Mor an truagh.

[DamianNixon]

galánta arís.