Cearcall A’Chuian
(Circle of the Ocean)
Calum Mac Dhòmhnaill/Ruaiaridh Mac Dhòmhnaill (Run Rig). Phonetics by An Cór Ceilteach's resident Scots-Gaelic expert, Eva Gordon.

[Scots-Gaelic]
[Rough Phonetic]

[Rann 1]
Tha sinn uile air cuan
Stiùreadh cuairt troimh ar beatha
A’ seòladh geòla dhorch’
Air chall an greim na mara
Tha a’ ghaoth air ar cùl
Tha a’ gheòl’ a’ cumail roimhpe
‘S cha dean uair neo an cuan
Tonaisg dhuinn neo rian.

[Rann 2]
A’ mhuir, tha i ciùin
Tha i fiadhaich, tha i farsaing;
Tha i àluinn, tha i diamhair,
Tha i gamhlasach is domhain
O ach sinn tha sinn dall
‘S chan eil againn ach beatha
Tog an seòl, tog an ràmh
‘Gus am faigh sinn astar ann.

[Rann 3]
Tha mi ‘n dùil,  tha mi ‘n dùil
Nuair a bhios a’ ghrian dol fodha
Chì iad mi a’ stiùireadh ‘n Iar
Null a  dh’Uibhist air a’ chearcall
O Chearcall a’ chuain
Gu bràth bidh i a’ tionndadh
Leam gu machair geal an Iar
Far an do thòisich an là.

 [Verse 1]
Ha sheen ul-la air koo-un
Shtyoor-a koorsht troy ar bay-ha
Ahh show-la gyow-la ghoraCH
Air xCHall an graym na mah-ra
Ha ah GHoo air ar kool
Ha a GHyole a koomal roy-pa
sSCHa jen oo-ir nyo an koo-an
To-nishk ghooin,  no ree-un.

[Verse 2]
A voor, ha ee kyooin
Ha ee fyay-eeCH, ha ee far-sing;
Ha ee ah-leen, ha ee jee-ur,
Ha ee gal-la-saCH iss doh-ween
Oh aCH sheen, ha sheen dahl
S/CHan yale a-keen aCH bay-ha
Towg an shole, tog an rahv
Gus am fye sheen as-tur awn.

[Verse 3]
Ha mee-nool, ha mee-nool
Noo’ir a vees a GHree’un dole fowa
CHEE ad me-e a shtyOOr an yeer
Null a GHoo’isht air a Chyare-cull
Ohhh... Chyare-cull a CHoo’ayn
Goo BRAH bee ee a tyoon-day
Lyum goo maCH-ur gyahl an ee’ur
Far-an do hoe-sheeCH an lah.

A Rough English Translation
1] We try to find a course
On the broad and open sea
Sailing a dark ship
Lost in the grip of the sea.
The winds push from behind,
Driving us on and on;
Neither time passing nor the ocean
Brings wisdom or order.
 3] I can see the time coming
When the sun is going down
When I’ll be steering westwards,
With Uist on the horizon
May the circle of the horizon
Keep turning for me
Until I reach the white sands of the West
Where day first began.
2] The sea may be calm,
May be wild, may be wide;
The sea may be beautiful, may be secret,
May be tumultuous, deep,
We see so little,
But have only one life.
Raise up the sail, pull on the oar,
Let’s be moving onwards.

The display of these songs on this site is only meant as a means for the Celtic Arts Center Choir to distribute songs to its members. This is not intended for wider publication or larger distribution.
Page updated on Tue , July 12, 2011.
© 2004-11 TechnoCelt Productions in association with The Celtic Arts Center / An Claidheamh Soluis. All rights reserved.