From the recording From Uig to Duluth
Lyrics
Eilean Leòdhais
Ochain a Rìgh gur mi tha cianail.
Tha còrr is bliadhna bho rinn mi seòladh.
Ma tha e’n dàin dhomh gun till mi sàbhailt’
Gu faic mi Chàbag, gach bàt’ is òb ann.
Seist:
O ‘s e mo dhùrachd ‘s e siud a’ lùiginn
A bhith tighinn dlùth ‘s ann ri fearann Leòdhais.
Ma nì mi tìr, dheth ged b’ann a’ Lìte,
Gun tèid mi dìreach a dh’eilean Leòdhais.
Nuair a thèid mi gun a cuibhle
Air meadhan oidhche nuair a bhios i reòite,
O, ‘s mòr gum b’fheàrr leam a bhi le pailt’
Ann an leabaidh àrd an eilean bàn ‘s mi Leòdhas.
Thug mi cuairt dhomh Buenos Aires
Far robh na h-eulagan dheth gach seòrsa,
O ‘s ann tha m’ fharmadsa ris an iasgair
Tha cur a’ lion an ear ‘s an iar air Rònaigh.
O, nach mise bha aig a’ bhaile
Am measg nam balach ‘s a’ mealadh òighean
O ‘s mi gu siùbhladh ‘s gu falbhainn aotrom
Air bhàrr an fhraoich, ‘s mi air tìr ‘s mi Leòdhas.
TRANSLATION:
The Isle of Lewis
Oh Lord, I am pining
It’s more than a year since I sailed
If it is my destiny, I will return safely
Till I see Càbag, every boat and bay.
Chorus:
It is my wish and my desire
To be nearing the land of Lewis
If I make land, though it be in Leith
I will go straight to the Isle of Lewis.
When I go to the wheel
In the middle of the night when it’s freezing cold
Oh, how I would prefer to be replete
In the master bed, in the fair Isle of Lewis.
I took a voyage to Buenos Aires
Where there were diversions of every kind
But I am envious of the fishermen
Casting nets round Rònaigh east and west
Oh would that I were at home
Among the lads and teasing the girls
Strolling and skipping
Upon the heather, and me ashore in Lewis.