Biography

Born in 1896 in Uigshader, Isle of Skye, Angus Fletcher (Aonghas a' Ghobha) was the son of a blacksmith who taught him the trade.

Before the Second World War, he worked on a farm in Dunalastair for nearly ten years. He was married to Anna Graham from Uig, and they had one daughter, Catriona. The family returned to the island shortly before the Second World War, and Angus built a house beside the Conon River in Uig. He made a living through various trades including stonemasonry and joinery. He famously said: "I would build houses, and even though I was never formally trained, none of the houses have fallen down yet."

Angus was a talented singer of humorous songs. For example, when he reached pension age, he was invited to perform at a party for older people:

Saoil an tuig sibh mar a bha mi
Nuair a fhuair mi fios na pàrtaidh;
Dùil a'm gur ann òg a bha mi
Ged tha mo chnàmhan làn lumbago.

Mìle beannachd aig a' chòmhlan
Chruinnich iad an seo sinn còmhla;
'M biadh a b' fheàrr ga chur air bòrd dhuinn
Agus ceòl againn ga èisteachd.

Thug iad an seo sinn às gach àite
Ìdrigil, a' Chùil is Eàrlais;
Thug iad ann an seo le càr sinn
Thug iad Santa Claus le fèidh ann.

He composed many humerous songs on various subjects, such as rabbits being a nuisance to crofters in Òran nan Rabaidean, and a poor wee horse in the song Each a' Cheàird. He was also good at telling stories.

In the 1960s, he moved from Uig to live in the gatehouse of the Skeabost Estate. It wasn't long before he was asked how he enjoyed living there, and he answered the question on a Gaelic programme on the 20th of September 1979:

"It isn't so bad now, but when I first arrived the animals bothered me. The rams of Dùn na Cille bothered me. They would come to the door and make a mess around it. They'd also be around the car. When it was clean, they would see their reflections, and when I would go after them, they would bleat and go away."

Siud na rùdaichean bha cianail
Mhilleadh iad a h-uile sìon ort
Chagainn iad an t-slat-iasgaich
Driamlach 's dubhain Ghallt' air
Na rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

O, mura bi an doras dùinte
'S gur e 'n fhìrinn th' anns a' chùis seo;
Gun tig iad a-staigh 'n rùm
A dh'èisteachd news na wireless.
Na rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

An uair a dh'èireas mi sa mhadainn
Bidh na trì dhiubh anns an doras;
Saoilidh tu air an starsaich
Gur robh agam gamhn' ann.
Rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

Mas e 'n fhìrinn th' anns an stòiridh
Nach eil daoine gabhail còir orr',
Càit an t-saoghal bheil a' chlòimh
A bh' orra 'm braon an t-samhraidh?
Na rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

Ach gu faic mi fhìn an cìobair
Faighnichidh mi a h-uile nì dheth
'N d' fhuair e brath sam bith ag innse
Gun robh trì air chall
Dhe na rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

Nuair bhios mi sgiùrsadh nam bèistean
Uaireannan 's mi às mo lèinidh;
Nì iad mèile bheag ri chèile
Mus leum iad thar an alltain
Na rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

Ach ann an Co-operative Ùige
Gu bheil dòigheannan às ùr ann
Dòcha nach bi feum air rùda
'S thig luchd a' Bhùird chuir bann air
Na rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

'S e mo dhùrachd fhìn am-bliadhna
Cìobair Gallta tighinn dhan iarraidh
Nach cuir tuilleadh chun nan t-sliabh iad
'S gun toir mo liadh an ceann dheth
Na rùdaichean bha 'n Dùn na Cille, ciod a thug a-nall iad?

Although Angus's inspiration for song was mostly small things from the community he came from, he did not hesitate to write about political issues, composing songs like Òran a' Veto about debates on whether pubs should stay open or close in Snizort. During a conflict about the ferry between Raasay residents and the estate owner, Doctor Green, Angus wasn't long in expressing his opinions in song:

O gun innis mi dhuibh gu h-ealamh
Mar a thachair dhan a' chùis seo,
Bha Ratharsair ag iarraidh aiseag
Bho chionn fada 's iad ga h-ionndrainn;
Gur e Sgonnsar àite b' fhasa
Dhan an aiseag dhol ga h-ionnsaidh,
Ach thàinig Dotair Uaine à Sasainn
'S chuir e chas ann chun na glùineadh.

'S nuair a thàinig e a Ratharsair
Fhuair e h-uile càil a dh'iarr e,
Taighean agus fearann àlainn
Ged nach do dh'àitich e riamh iad;
'S ann anns a' chladach aig bha 'm bàgh
A bha math gus am bàta dhìon dhaibh
Ach on a thionndaidh e cho grànda
Tha bhròg air a' chois cheàrr am-bliadhna.

Siud agaibh far 'n robh 'n nàbaidh
Rinn e grèim bàis air na crìochan
Fhuair e iasgach bhon Department
Ged a thàrr iad bhuaith' am-bliadhn' e;
Shaoil leis nach robh 'n Council làidir
Ach cha do thuig e tràth na Sgitheanaich
'S on a ghabh e an taobh ceàrr dhiubh
B' fheàrr dha nach tàinig e riamh ann.

Ach bheir an Council dhaibh gun aireachas
Am bàta tha 'd ag iarraidh
Ghabh iad math de lagh na banrigh
A thug dàil dhaibh airson bliadhna.
Airson Dotair na làmh làidir
Gur e rud a b' fheàrr dha dhèanamh
Maitheanas iarraidh mar fhàbhar
'S Dùn Cana chur gu bràth as fhianais.

A book and tape of songs, Òrain Aonghais agus an Sgiobair, was released in 1980, containing songs of Angus and his friend John Nicolson (An Sgiobair), edited and published by Catriona Montgomery.

Angus Fletcher died in 1982.

List of compositions

Clachan Ghlinn Da Ruaidheil
Òran a' Veto