What a beautiful episode! The Scottish scenery was breathtaking as always, but for me, what truly added another dimension to this episode was the spectacular score by Bear McCreary. The haunting songs, some familiar and some new, really brought home to me to reality of the task Jamie and Claire were taking on. And in terms of Gaelic, almost all the Gaelic this episode was in the music other than a few stray Sassenach and Mo nighean donn endearments. (If I’ve missed something else in the dialog, let me know!) Therefore, this post is going to concentrate on the lyrics and background of the Gaelic songs used by Bear McCreary this week.
Edit: someone did point out that there was a new Gaelic phrase that Jamie used with the men at one point. I believe that is ‘a’ mhór-fhaiche’ (the great field), one of the Fraser battle cries.
Further edit: Here are more details on the other Gaelic words/phrases used this week. Thanks to all those who pointed them out while I was so taken with the music. 😉
17:28 Jamie to the marching men
Stadaibh! – Stop!
20:07 Jamie and the men give the Fraser battle cry
a’ mhór-fhaiche – Fraser Battle cry that roughly translates to ‘the great field’. Prounounced /ə VORE EYEch/
20:12 Dougal and the MacKenzies
Tulach Ard – MacKenszie battle cry that translates to ‘the high hill’.
26:58 Jamie to one of the men
a-rithist – again
38:22 Jamie to Claire
Mo nighean donn – My brown-haired lass
49:53 Jamie as Dougal leaves
siud – that/yes
I should note that I had some help in gathering this information from Bear’s tweet, as well as from CompuServe member AlexL who tracked down a lot of this information and was happy for me to share it!
An Fhìdeag Airgid
Many of you may recognize this as song used in season one of Outlander and sung by Gwyllyn the Bard (played by Gillebrìde MacMillan) in episode 103 – Rent. You can find that version, which does not contain any reference to the Prince, on volume 2 of the season 1 Outlander soundtrack, also available on Spotify.
| Lyrics: |
English Translation: |
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| Co a sheinneas an fhideag airigid |
Who will play the silver whistle? |
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| Sèist: |
Chorus (after each verse): |
| Ho ro hu a hu il o |
Ho ro hu a hu il o |
| Hi ri hu o, hi ri hu o |
Hi ri hu o, hi ri hu o |
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| Mac mo righ air tighinn a dh’Alba |
Since the son of my king has come to Scotland |
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| Air lang mhar nar tri chrann airgid |
On a great ship with three masts of silver |
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| Air long riomhach nam ball airgid |
On the handsome vessel with the silver rigging |
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| Tearlach og nan gorm shuil mealach |
Young Charles with the blue bewitching eyes |
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| Failte, failte mian is clui dhuit |
Welcome, welcome, may you be desired and famous |
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| Fidhleireachd is ragha a’uil dhuit |
May there be fiddling and the choicest music before you |
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| Co a sheinneadh? Nach seinninn fhin i? |
Who’d play it? Who’d say that I’d not play it myself? |
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| Co a sheinneas an fhideag airigid |
Who will play the silver whistle? |
Moch sa mhadainn ’s mi dùsgadh (also called Oran Eile Don Phrionnsa – Song to the Prince)
This is the haunting song that is played during the drill scenes and at the end on the approach to the Prince’s camp to such devastating effect. This is what Bear had to say on Twitter:
I have had the pleasure of hearing Griogair Labhruidh perform live and he is a brilliant musician. I can also definitely say that I will be pre-ordering the Outlander season 2 soundtrack as soon as it is available based solely upon my desire to have this one song alone.
| Lyrics: |
English Translation: |
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| Sèist: |
Chorus (after each verse): |
| Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o |
Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o |
| Thug o-ho-ro an aill libh |
Thug o-ho-ro an aill libh |
| Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o |
Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o |
| Seinn o-ho-ro an aill libh |
Seinn o-ho-ro an aill libh |
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| Och ‘sa mhaduinn’s mi dusgadh |
Early as I awaken |
| ‘S mor mo shunnd’s mo cheol-gaire |
Great my joy, loud my laughter |
| O’n a chuala mi ‘m Prionnsa |
Since I heard that the Prince comes |
| Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann Ra’ill |
To the land of Clanranald |
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| O’n a chuala mi ‘m Prionnsa |
Since I heard that the Prince comes |
| Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann Ra’ill |
To the land of Clanranald |
| Grainne mullaich gach righ thu |
Thou art the choicest of all rulers |
| Slan gum pill thusa, Thearlaich |
Here’s a health to thy returning |
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| Grainne mullaich gach righ thu |
Thou art the choicest of all rulers |
| Slan gum pill thusa, Thearlaich |
Here’s a health to thy returning |
| ‘S ann th ‘n fhior-fhuil gun truailleadh |
His the royal blood unmingled |
| Anns a ghruadh is mor-naire |
Great the modesty in his visage |
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| ‘S ann th ‘n fhior-fhuil gun truailleadh |
His the royal blood unmingled |
| Anns a ghruadh is mor-naire |
Great the modesty in his visage |
| Mar ri barrachd na h-uaisle |
With nobility overflowing |
| ‘G eirigh suas le deagh-nadur |
And endowed with all good nature |
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| Mar ri barrachd na h-uaisle |
With nobility overflowing |
| ‘G eirigh suas le deagh-nadur |
And endowed with all good nature |
| Us nan tigeadh tu rithist |
And shouldst thou return ever |
| Bhiodh gach tighearn’ ‘n aite |
At his post would be each laird |
When researching this song, I stumbled across a fascinating video about the author of the original poetry the song is based upon. The dialogue in the video is in Gaelic but a written English translation is available on the LearnGaelic web site. I find seeing the Gaelic and English transcription as I’m watching to be an excellent way to learn Gaelic words and sounds.
I hope you enjoy this look behind two of the Gaelic songs used to such effect by Bear McCreary this week!
Great Scot! 