Scots Gaelic Song (an Eala bhan-The White Swan)

Incomplete recording of Mary Jane Campbell singing a beautiful song in Scots Gaelic during an informal ceilidh at the home of her sister and brother in law, Catherine and Andy Will in Plockton, Scotland.
The song is in the form of a letter from a World War One Scottish soldier to his sweetheart, sent with the knowledge he will not survive.
Thanks to aodh78 and 86iml for providing me with the above information on this heart-rending song. (I have since found a translation on a Cappercailie CD)
Apologies for the poor lighting.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Scotland
• Gaelic
• Ceilidh

[flurpleparrot]

is that buckfast on the table? lol jakes =]

jk

[Wishuey]

As I recall, the bottle on the right was 12 year old Glenfarclas.  Maybe the other one?

[Wishuey]

I see you`re from Dunoon; had a fine time there a few years back at the Highland Games

[flurpleparrot]

kl, still didnt answer my question tho =p

[Wishuey]

Ah, but I did. See the first answer....

[BillyHamilton]

You can keep your tv and playstations, I'd rather be sat in a room with a full hand listening to someone sing the old Gaelic tunes. Lovely.

[Wishuey]

Thanks. It was an unforgettable evening; only wish we`d been able to record the entire song and that the lighting had been better.

[Mekhaman]

Actually Gaelic (Scots and Irish) IS an indo-european language, from the Celtic family (Goidelic branch). Basque and Finnish, however, are NOT indo-european languages, the first a language isolate and the former a member of the Finno-ugric languages.

[flurpleparrot]

ahhhhhh ok. didnt see it

[Wishuey]

It is a beautiful song and I am sure you are justifiably proud of its provenance.

Have you heard Capercaillie`s version?

[pipersdaughter1]

this song was written for my grandmother formarly margaret mac leod of north uist