'S Gann Gun Dìrich Mi Chaoidh
(I'll Hardly Ever Climb Again)
by Tormod Mac Neacail (Norman Nicolson) ~ 1825 Isle of Skye

[Scots-Gaelic]
[Rough Phonetic]

[ Sèist]
'S gann gun dìrich mi chaoidh
Dh'ionnsaigh frìth àrd a' mhonaidh,
'S gann gun dìrich mi chaoidh.

[ Rann 1 ]
Fhuair mi litir à Dùn Eideann
nach fhaodainn fhèin nis dol don mhonadh.

Sèist

[ Rann 2 ]
Fhuair mi litir on na h-uaislean
Nach fhaodainn luaidh a chur à gunna.

Sèist

[ Rann 3 ]
Pàdraig Mòr an Ceann-Loch-Aoineart
Rinn e 'n fhoill 's cha d' rinn e buinnig.

Sèist

[ Rann 4 ]
'S tric a mharbh mi fiadh nan àrd-bheann
Air na glinn a b' àille culaidh.

Sèist

[ Rann 5 ]
'S tric a mharbh mi fiadh nan stùc-bheann
Air mo ghlùn, 's mi lùbadh m' uilinn.

Sèist

[ Rann 6 ]
Fàgaidh mi a-nis an tìr seo —
Chan fhaigh m' inntinn sith innt' tuilleadh.

Sèist


 [ Chorus ]
Ss-Gown gun JEE-reekh mee KHWEE
Yoong-see FREE arsht a VON-nee,
Ss-Gown gun JEE-reekh mee KHWEE.

[ Verse 1 ]
HOOIR mee lee-cheer ah doon AY-jeen
Nakh OO-deen hayn nish DOLE don VON-nee.

Chorus

[ Verse 2 ]
HOOIR mee lee-cheer ahn nah HOOSH-lun
Nakh OO-deen loo-ay ah KHOOir ah gunnah.

Chorus

[ Verse 3 ]
PAH-trik MORE ahn KYown lokh AYn-yursht
Rin ayn oyls kha drin-eh boon-ik.

Chorus

[ Verse 4 ]
Strea'k ah VAR-uhv mee FEE-uh nahn ARSHT-Vyown
Air nah GLEEN ah BALL-ya koo-lee.

Chorus

[ Verse 5 ]
Strea'k ah VAR-uhv mee FEE-uh nahn stook-Vyown
Air moe GLOO'n, smee LOO-bah moo-leen.

Chorus

[ Verse 6 ]
FOG-gee mee a-nish ahn CHEER show
Khan eye MEEN-cheen SHEE eench too-lyugh.

Chorus

#] I'll hardly ever climb again
To the high mountain deer forest.
It's unlikely I'll ever climb again.
1] I received a letter from Edinburgh
I'm no longer allowed to go to the mountains.
 2] I received a letter from the nobility
I'm not allowed to shoot lead from a gun.
3] It was Big Peter from the head of Loch Aoineart
Who played the dirty trick though it gained him nothing.
 4] Often I killed the deer in the high bens
And in the richly thicketed glens.
5] Often I killed the deer of the mountain peaks
Kneeling with bent elbow.
 6] I'm going to leave this country now
I can't find peace of mind here any more.

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© 2007 TechnoCelt Productions in association with The Celtic Arts Center / An Claidheamh Soluis. All rights reserved.