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Cumha Mhic an Tòisich

Lyrics:

Och nan och, leagadh thu,
Och nan och, leagadh thu,
Och nan och, leagadh thu
Am bealach a' ghàrraidh.

Is mise bhean mhuladach
A' giùlain na curraice,
On a chualas aig gach duine
Gur ann na mhullach bha 'm fàbhar.

'S truagh nach robh mis' an sin,
'S truagh nach robh mis' an sin,
'S truagh nach robh mis' an sin,
Is bheirinn air làimh ort.

Is mise tha gu tùrsach,
'S tric snigh' air mo shùilean,
'S mi 'g ionndrainn an fhiùrain,
Marcaich ùr nan steud àlainn.

Eòghainn òig, leagadh thu,
Eòghainn òig, leagadh thu,
Eòghainn òig, leagadh thu,
An clàbar a' ghàrraidh.

Gur mise tha tùrsach
On chuir iad san ùir thu;
Thoir mo shoraidh le dùrachd
Gu tùr nan clach àrda.

Eòghainn òig, leagadh thu,
Eòghainn òig, leagadh thu,
Eòghainn òig, leagadh thu,
Gun fhios dhomh 's mi làmh riut.

Dhannsadh tu còmhnard
Nan seinneadh iad ceòl dhut,
'S cha lùbadh tu am feòirnean
Fo shròin do bhròig' àirde.

Och nan och, leagadh thu,
Och nan och, leagadh thu,
Och nan och, leagadh thu
Am bealach a' ghàrraidh.

Composer

Unknown/Traditional

Performances

Gaelic song index ref: COG182

Find all versions of this song in Tobar an Dualchais

Song Background

Just as there are different versions of the song, there are different accounts and stories associated with Cumha Mhic an Tòisich (The Lament for the Chief’s Son). The song may be as old as the sixteenth century.

According to oral tradition, the young chief of Mac an Tòisich was thrown from the horse he was riding as he was returning from his own wedding. His new wife was travelling the same road but was unaware of the accident.

It is said that this was the lament she sang while her husband’s coffin was being carried to burial, from Dalgross to Petty near Inverness.

In another version of the song, she tells how she was a maiden, a married woman, and a widow all in one day:

Ochain a laoigh, leag iad thu, Leag iad thu, leag iad thu; Ochain a laoigh, leag iad thu Am bealach a’ ghàrraidh.

‘S truagh nach robh mis an sin ‘S truagh nach robh mis an sin ‘S truagh nach robh mis an sin Is ceathr’ air gach làimh dhomh.

An leann thog iad gu d’ bhanais An leann thog iad gu d’ bhanais An leann thog iad gu d’ bhanais Air t-fhalairidh bha e.

Bha mi ‘m bhrèidich ‘s ‘m ghruagaich, Am bhrèidich ‘s ‘m ghruagaich, Am bhrèidich ‘s ‘m ghruagaich, ‘S am bhanntraich san aon uair ud.

Gun chron air an t-saoghal ort Gun chron air an t-saoghal ort Gun chron air an t-saoghal ort Ach nach fheud thu saoghal buan fhàistinn.

It is possible that this song was used as a keening lament by professional women mourners who performed laments at deaths. The song also appears to be connected with the pipe lament Cumha Mhic an Tòisich.