Ailein Duinn [Dark-Haired Alan] (Scottish Folk Song)
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Ailein Duinn [Dark-Haired Alan] (Scottish Folk Song)

Ailein duinn a ni ‘s a naire
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

’S goirt ‘s gur daor a phaigh mi mal dhut
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

Cha chrodh laoigh ‘s cha chaoraich bhana
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

Cha bu chlachan ‘s cha bu chais’ e
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

… 17 more verses … (see below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *
Dark-haired Alan, my dearest jewel
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

Endless grief the rent it cost me
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

’Twas neither sheep nor even cattle
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

Neither cheese nor even ballast
Ho na hi hoireann o ho / Hi na hi ri a hu a

… 17 more verses … (see below)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * *
 1. Ailein duinn a ni ‘s naire Dark-haired Alan, my dearest jewel
 2. ’S goirt ‘s gur daor a phaigh mi mal dhut Endless grief the rent it cost me
 3. Cha chrodh laoigh ‘s cha chaoraich bhana ’Twas neither sheep nor even cattle
 4. Cha bu chlachan ‘s cha bi chais’ e Neither cheese nor even ballast
 5. Ach an luchd a thaom am bata But the load the ship took with her
 6. Bha m’athair oirre ‘s mo thriur bhraithrean Brothers three and my own father
 7. ‘S laoigh mo chium a rinn mi arach Gone my child grown to manhood
 8. Chan e sin gu leir a chraidh mi As if this wan’t all my burden
 9. Ach am fear a ghlac air laimh mi One to whom my heart was given
10. Leathanach a’bhroillich bhainghil Skin like snow, McLean, my own one
11. A thug o’n chlachan Di-mairt mi Took me from the church on Tuesday
12. Fhaoileag bheag thu, fhaoileag mhar’ thu Seagull, seagull from the ocean
13. Thig a nall is innis naidheachd Come to me and tell me plainly
14. Cait an d’fhag thu na fir geala? Where you left my own, those fair ones?
15. Dh’fhag mi iad ‘s an eilein mhara Left alone with sea surrounding
16. Cul ri cul is iad gun anail Back-to-back, no longer breathing
17. O gur mise th’air mo sgaradh? What is it that so torments me?
18. Gu bheil do leabaidh anns an fheamainn That your bed should be the seaweed
19. Gur iad na roin do luchd faire None but seals to be your mourners
20. Do choinnlean ard na reultan geala Stars on high to be your candles
21. ‘S do cheol fidhle gaoir na mara The murmuring sea your song of passing


Words and tune from Folk Songs of Britain and Ireland, edited by Peter Kennedy. Sequenced by Tom Connole.
aileinduinn.htm 7/22/06