Mairi Bhàn
(C. Macdonald / R. Macdonald)
O mo Mhairi bhàn tha na blàthan air na gallan
Tha 'n eala bhàn aig tàmh air na lochan mar a bha
Is tha na sgòthan olc 's dorch air am fuadach, air an sgaradh
Grian ùr ag èirigh suas
Grian tha abaich le gaol mo Mhairi bhàn
Na sheasabh air a' chidhe, gruagach bhòidheach, òighe maise
Cho aotram is cho saor, sùilean lasadh blàth le gàire
'S tha aiseag mòr mo chridhe seòladh bho sgrios gu sìth 's sonas
'S tus an lus an gàrradh marbh
An reul san adhair chiar, mo Mhairi Bhàn
'S daor a cheannaich sinn an saors' a chuir crìoch ri blàr 's ri cògaidh
Daor na cuimhnichean nach fhàg fàsach cianail an Roinn-Eorpa
'S tha gach là a tha nam choinneamh airson nan gillean nach bi tilleadh
Ar clann gun fhathast ann
'S saoghal loma-làn le gaol mo Mhairi bhàn
Nach toir thu dhomh do làmh, do phog, do gheall, do ghaol 's do chridhe
'S gun coisich sinn le sunnd tro gharradh òg na cruinne
Tha geallach làn ar fiùghair a' soillse air a' mhachair
'S air an t-slighe tha feitheamh oirnn
Slighe a mhaireas ri gu bràth, mo Mhairi bhàn
Tha 'n eàla bhan aig tàmh air na lochan mar a bha
Fair HairedMary / Translation
My fair-haired Mary, the blossom is now on the young branches*
The white swan is at rest on the lochs, as always was
The dark foreboding clouds have now cleared away and scattered
A new sun is rising
A sun ripe with love, my fair-haired Mary
Standing on the pier, a beautiful young girl, a fair one
Light hearted and free, eyes full of spirit and laughter
And the big ship of my heart is sailing from destruction to happiness
For you are the flower in a dead garden
The star in the darkest sky, my fair-haired Mary
Heavy was the price we paid for the freedom that put an end to conflict and war
Difficult the memories that will never leave the dreadful wilderness of Europe
Now I live each day before me for the boys that will not be returning
For the children still to be born
And for a world overflowing with love, my fair-haired Mary
So give me your hand, your kiss, your promise, your love, your heart
And let us walk in joy through the young garden of creation
For the moon of all our hopes is shining on the machair
And on the path that stretches before us
The path that reaches to eternity, my fair-haired Mary
The white swan is at rest on the lochs, as always was
*(handsome young men)
(C. Macdonald / R. Macdonald)
O mo Mhairi bhàn tha na blàthan air na gallan
Tha 'n eala bhàn aig tàmh air na lochan mar a bha
Is tha na sgòthan olc 's dorch air am fuadach, air an sgaradh
Grian ùr ag èirigh suas
Grian tha abaich le gaol mo Mhairi bhàn
Na sheasabh air a' chidhe, gruagach bhòidheach, òighe maise
Cho aotram is cho saor, sùilean lasadh blàth le gàire
'S tha aiseag mòr mo chridhe seòladh bho sgrios gu sìth 's sonas
'S tus an lus an gàrradh marbh
An reul san adhair chiar, mo Mhairi Bhàn
'S daor a cheannaich sinn an saors' a chuir crìoch ri blàr 's ri cògaidh
Daor na cuimhnichean nach fhàg fàsach cianail an Roinn-Eorpa
'S tha gach là a tha nam choinneamh airson nan gillean nach bi tilleadh
Ar clann gun fhathast ann
'S saoghal loma-làn le gaol mo Mhairi bhàn
Nach toir thu dhomh do làmh, do phog, do gheall, do ghaol 's do chridhe
'S gun coisich sinn le sunnd tro gharradh òg na cruinne
Tha geallach làn ar fiùghair a' soillse air a' mhachair
'S air an t-slighe tha feitheamh oirnn
Slighe a mhaireas ri gu bràth, mo Mhairi bhàn
Tha 'n eàla bhan aig tàmh air na lochan mar a bha
Fair HairedMary / Translation
My fair-haired Mary, the blossom is now on the young branches*
The white swan is at rest on the lochs, as always was
The dark foreboding clouds have now cleared away and scattered
A new sun is rising
A sun ripe with love, my fair-haired Mary
Standing on the pier, a beautiful young girl, a fair one
Light hearted and free, eyes full of spirit and laughter
And the big ship of my heart is sailing from destruction to happiness
For you are the flower in a dead garden
The star in the darkest sky, my fair-haired Mary
Heavy was the price we paid for the freedom that put an end to conflict and war
Difficult the memories that will never leave the dreadful wilderness of Europe
Now I live each day before me for the boys that will not be returning
For the children still to be born
And for a world overflowing with love, my fair-haired Mary
So give me your hand, your kiss, your promise, your love, your heart
And let us walk in joy through the young garden of creation
For the moon of all our hopes is shining on the machair
And on the path that stretches before us
The path that reaches to eternity, my fair-haired Mary
The white swan is at rest on the lochs, as always was
*(handsome young men)