Capercaillie @ Ortigueira Celtic Festival 2015: "Fear A' Bhàta" ("The Boatman")

Details

Description

Fear a' Bhàta (The Boatman) is a Scots Gaelic song from the late 19th century, dealing with the love of a woman and a fisherman and capturing the emotions that she has to endure during his absence.

Lyrics:

Fhir a' bhàta, 's na ho ro eile
Fhir a' bhàta, 's na ho ro eile
Fhir a' bhàta, 's na ho ro eile
Mo shoraidh slàn leat 's gach àit' an téid thu

Is tric mi 'sealltainn o'n chnoc a's àirde
Dh'fheuch am faic mi fear a' bhàta
An tig thi an diùigh no'n tig thu a-màireach?
'S mur tig thu idir gur truagh a tà mi

Tha mo chridhe-sa briste, brùite
'S tric na deòir a' ruith o m' shùilean
An tig thu a-nochd no'm bi mo dhùil riut
No'n dùin mi'n dorus le osna thùrsaich?

'S tric mi 'faighneachd de luchd nam bàta
Am fac' iad thu no 'bheil thu sàbhailt'
Ach 's ann a tha gach aon dhiùbh 'g ràitinn

English Translation:

Chorus (after each verse):

Oh boatman, 's na ho ro eile
Oh boatman, 's na ho ro eile
Oh boatman, 's na ho ro eile
My best wishes go with you wherever you may be

I'm often searching on the highest hilltop
Trying to find the boatman
Will you come tonight or tomorrow?
If you don't come at all, I'll be distraught

My heart is broken, bruised
Often tears are running down my cheeks
Will you come tonight or will I wait up for you
But close the door, sighing heavily?

Often I'm asking the boatmen
If they've seen you or if you're safe
But everyone of them there says
That I am a fool to give my love to you

Capercaillie are a Scottish folk band, founded in the 1980s fronted by Karen Matheson and thus celebrating an existence which has now lasted for more than thirty years.