Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1965.105.1
Original Tape ID
SA1965.105
Summary
In this song Beathag Mhòr tells of her deep love for a Skye nobleman called Martin of Bealach. According to tradition, she bore him two sons. Martin however abandoned her, and married a member of the Raasay MacLeods. Beathag's pain is obvious from the song.
Item Notes
Recorded in Castlebay School. Seven couplets plus three-line choruses sung.
See:
'Òrain an Eilein' (C. Martin ed., 2001) p. 12
'Songs of Gaelic Scotland' (Anne Lorne Gillies ed., 2005) p. 337
Item Subject/Person
Màrtainn a' Bhealaich
Recording Location
County - Inverness-shire
Parish - Barra
Island - Barra
Village - Castlebay
Item Location
County - Inverness-shire
Island - Skye
Language
Gaelic
Genre
Song
Collection
SoSS
Transcription
B' e siud an cùl,
Seo an cùl bachallach.
B' e siud an cùl.
Och a Mhàrtainn dhuinn an Dùine
'S tu mo rùn 's nach fhaic thu mi.
Och a Mhàrtainn dhuinn 'ic Dhòmhnaill
Rinn do phòg-sa aiceid dhomh.
Blas na meala air do phògan
Cainnt do bheòil a b' aite leam.
Is ma thèid thu shiubhal nam frìthe
'S cinnteach mi gun tachair sinn.
Is ma thèid thu shiubhal nam fuar-bheann
Thoir sùil bhuat 's gum faic thu mi.
Is ma thèid thu dh'Uibhist an eòrna
Thoir tè bhòidheach dhachaigh às.
B' e siud an cùl bachlach, dualach
Òr-bhuidh', cuachach, cas-bhuidheach.