Gràdh geal mo chridh’
(Fair Love of My Heart)
Taken from liner notes and a personal transcription of Ishbel MacAskill's performance on the CD - Gaelic Scotland

[Scots-Gaelic]
[Rough Phonetic]

'N àm bhith cromadh ris a'ghleann
Thàinig snaidhm air mo chridh'
Bho nach d'thug thu dhomh do làmh
'S mi'n dùil nach fhàgadh tu mi

[Curfá]
Bheir mi ò hu o hò
Bheir mi ò hu o hì
Bheir mi ò hu o hò
'S mi fo bhròn 's tu gam dhìth

Dhèanainn trabhadh dhuit is buan
Chumainn suas thu gun dith
Bheirinn as a' ghreabhal chruaidh
Do mo luaidh teachd an tìr

[Curfá]

Ged nach eil sinn fhathast pòsd'
Tha mi'n dòchas gum bi
Fhad' 's a mhaireas mo dhà dhòrn
Cha bhith lòn oirnn a dhìth

[Curfá]

Dh'fhàg thu sìlteach mo shùil
Dh'fhàg thu tùrsach mo chridh'
Dh'fhàg thu tana-glas mo shnuadh
'S thug thu ghruag bhàrr mo chìnn

[Curfá]

 Nowm vee crom-Eg rEEsh egg-l-awn
Hannig sn-eyem air mo xh'ree
Vo nach' doo goo gho doe lawhv
Smee-n'ool nawch ahg-ahh too me-e

[Chorus]
Vair-mEE OH HOO o hoe
Vair-mEE OH HOO ~o~ HEE
Vair-mEE oh_hoo_o~Hoe
Smee-foe vroan stew gahm yEE

Yehn-neen(g) traw-egg oot is bu-on
xHumin(g) su-ahs-oo gan jEE
Verin(g) ass egg-rav-al croo-eye
Doe m' loow-eyed tchack 'n tEEr

[Chorus]

GEdth nawk-hel shin(g) hawst post
Ha meen-doh-xhess gem bee
Aahd-ze var-as mo ga gorn
xHa vee lo-an oarn-in(g) ah yee

[Chorus]

GHahg oo shil-tachk mo hool
GHahg oo toor-sawk mo cree
GHahg oo tanah-glass mo noo-a(d)
S ug oo groo-ahg var mo xhkeen-in(g)

[Chorus]

[ * "xh" = raspy 'ch' sound like heard in 'loch' ]

1] On turning to the glen,
My heart was enthralled
Since you did not give your hand
I hoped you would not leave me.		 ¢] Bheir mi o hu o ho
Bheir mi o hu o hi
Bheir mi o hu o ho
I am sad and you're not with me.		 2] I would plough for you and reap,
I would support you and you would want for nothing,
I would take from the hard gravel
A living for my love.
3] Although we are not yet married,
I hope we will be.
As long as there is strength in my two fists,
we will want for nothing.		 4] You left my eye tearful,
you left my heart broken,
you left me with a sickly pallor
My hair is thinned.		 [Beautiful songs always seem to have the saddest words.]

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.
Updated phonetics: July 12, 2011
© 2003-11 TechnoCelt Productions in association with The Celtic Arts Center / An Claidheamh Soluis. All rights reserved.