2019 an Giblean: Uiseag Bheag Dhearg / Apr. Little Red Lark

10/04/2019 seaboardgàidhlig No comments

Uiseag bheag dhearg – Little red lark

Seo òran-tàlaidh beag brèagha, a thàinig à Eilean Mhanainn bho thùs. Chaidh eadar-theangachadh bho Ghàidhlig Mhanainneach gu Gàidhlig na h-Alba o chionn mu cheud bliadhna, agus cha b’ fhada gus an do dh’fhàs e gu math measail air feadh nan dùthchannan Ceilteach. Anns an t-sèist chì thu “san ì” (bho Ghàidhlig Mhanainneach “oie”) an àite “oidhche”. ‘S e nàdar de chòmhradh a th’ ann, eadar pàiste agus uiseag. Dh’fhaodadh clann nas sine agus pàrant a sheinn còmhla, le ceist agus freagairt, no dh’fhaodadh am pàrant a sheinn leis fhèin, gus am bi am pàiste na chadal fon aodach-leapa bhlàth– ceart cho sèimh ris an uiseag fhèin eadar a dà dhuilleig.

Uiseag bheag dhearg na mòna duibh,
Na mòna duibh, na mòna duibh.
Uiseag bheag dhearg na mòna duibh,
Càit’ na chaidil thu ‘n raoir san ì?

Chaidil mi ‘n raoir air bhàrr an dris,
Air bhàrr an dris, air bhàrr an dris.
Chaidil mi ‘n raoir air bhàrr an dris,
Is o! bha mo chadal cho sgìth.

Uiseag bheag dhearg na mòna duibh,
Na mòna duibh, na mòna duibh.
Uiseag bheag dhearg na mòna duibh,
Càit’ na chaidil thu ‘n raoir san ì?

Chaidil mi ‘n raoir air bhàrr nan tonn,
Air bhàrr nan tonn, air bhàrr nan tonn.
Chaidil mi ‘n raoir air bhàrr nan tonn,
Ach o! bha mo chadal cho sgìth.

Uiseag bheag dhearg nan sgiathan òir,
Nan sgiathan òir, nan sgiathan òir.
Uiseag bheag dhearg nan sgiathan òir,
Càit’ na chaidil thu ‘n raoir ‘san ì?

Chaidil mi ‘n raoir eadar dà dhuilleag,
Eadar dà dhuilleag, eadar dà dhuilleag.
Chaidil mi ‘n raoir eadar dà dhuilleag,
Is o! bha mo chadal cho sèimh

************************************

This is a lovely wee lullaby which originally came from the Isle of Man. It was translated from Manx Gaelic to Scottish Gaelic about a hundred years ago, and it wasn’t long before it became very popular throughout the Celtic countries. In the chorus you can see “san ì” for “in the night” (from the Manx word “oie”) instead of the usual Gaelic “oidhche”. It’s a kind of dialogue between a child and a skylark. Older children and a parent could sing it together, question and answer, or the parent could sing it alone, until the child was asleep under the bedclothes, just as peacefully as the lark itself between its two leaves.

Little red lark from the black moor
The black moor, the black moor
Little red lark from the black moor
Where did you sleep last night?

I slept last night on the bramble bush
On the bramble bush, on the bramble bush
I slept last night on the bramble bush
But oh was my sleep so restless!

Little red lark from the black moor
The black moor, the black moor
Little red lark from the black moor
Where did you sleep last night?

I slept last night on the ocean waves
On the ocean waves, on the ocean waves
I slept last night on the ocean waves
But oh was my sleep so restless!

Little red lark with the golden wings
With the golden wings, with the golden wings
Little red lark with the golden wings
Where did you sleep last night?

I slept last night between two leaves
Between two leaves, between two leaves
I slept last night between two leaves
And oh was my sleep so peaceful!