an ni a bha nam inntinn gun inns mi dhuibh an rann: gu falbhainn dh'aindeoin side air sgriob do thir nan gall
le baga lan de chearcan agus rudan a bha gann -
gum bithinn aig bliadhn' uir ann 's gun chumhnadh air an dram. diciadain dh'fhalbh mi casruisgt' le mo bhagaichean nam dhorn
a' dol a loch nam madadh ghabhail aiseag san lochmor;
bha fuachd na mo chasan-sa 's bha sneachd' air bharr nan lon -
cha diochuimhnich mi 'n t-allaban cho fad' 's a bhios mi beo. nuair rainig mi a' cheardach
ardach duine choir
a thug a-staigh gun dail mi 's a nochd dhomh cairdeas mor
thug dhomh ti a b' fheairrde mi ri aghaidh bhlath an stobh -
gu seasainn fuachd nuair dh'fhag sinn le mo chaiseart blath 's lem chot'. nuair dh'fhalbh an carbad-ola leinn 's ar n-aghaidh thoir dhan tuath
bha sinn greis an cearsabhagh a' blasad air stuth cruaidh;
gun tainig bean na maise 's am muir geal oirre mun cuairt
's chanainn fhin gum b' amadan a rachadh innt' air chuan. nuair thog i mach gu farsainneachd
's sinn airsnealach is sgith
nuair thoisich cur na mara oirnn
bu mhath a bhith air tir;
bha mise mar bha cach
le spairn orm a' stri -
an drama dh'ol mi 'n cearsabhagh
bu duilich dhealaich sinn. on ear-dheas bha i seideadh oirnn
gun choltas tighinn na b' fhearr
bha sinn uil'
oir b' fheudar dhuinn
nar sineadh air an lar;
nuair readh i sios dhan chlaisidh leinn 's am muir a' sgailceadh ard
bha curam air gach neach againn nach tilleadh i gu brath. b 'e siud an oidhche anranach a bh' againn anns a' bhat'
ach rainig sinn loch baghasdail le dion an ti as aird;
thug mi leam mo bhagaichean agus tharr mi as a' bhat' -
chan fhanainn-sa na b' fhaid' innte ged rachainn dhan taigh-gheard!
fhuair mi cadal socair ann an dachaigh dhaoine coir
aig maiseig ruadh
's mo ghradh oirre
oir nochd i cairdeas dhomhs': guma fada slan i
oir 's baidheil i na doigh
gu gabhail ro aon anranach a dh'fhagadh an lochmor. mun criochnaich mi an t-oran seo
gun inns mi dhuibh an corr: a-maireach thill mi dhachaigh agus botal na mo phoc;
chruinnich sinn na cairdean gu partaidh dhe gach seors'
is cha robh h-aon a thainig leinn a chaineadh an lochmor!
i'll tell you in verse what my intention was. regardless of bad weather
i would pay a visit to the lowlands
carrying a bag full of chickens and other scarce goods. i'd be there at new year and there would be no stinting on whisky
barefoot
i left on wednesday
clutching my bags
heading for lochmaddy and a crossing on the lochmor. snow had fallen and my feet were freezing. it was a journey i'll never forget. i reached the smithy
home of a good man
who took me in and showed me great kindness. in front of a warm stove he restored me with tea. i was able to withstand the cold when i left with warm shoes and a coat. the motor car left
heading north
and we spent a while in cearsabhagh sampling whisky. bean na maise appeared through foaming seas all around and
in my opinion
only a fool would take to sea in her. by the time she reached open seas we were depressed and weary. as seasickness started we longed to be ashore. i was like the others
fighting it valiantly. but sadly i had to part from the dram i drank in cearsabhgh. a south-easterly wind was blowing hard and showing no sign of abating. we were all
of necessity
lying on the floor. when she plunged into the trough
with seas breaking high above her
we were all terrified that she'd never right herself again. despite having such a stormy night in the ship
under the protection of the almighty
we reached lochboisdale. i took my bags and escaped from the ship. threat of imprisonmemt wouldn't have made me stay on board. i had a good night's sleep in dear maiseag ruadh's
the home of generous
friendly people. may she live long for the kindly welcome she gave
to at least one wanderer who deserted the lochmor. before i finish this song i'll tell you the rest. the following day i returned home with a bottle in my pocket. friends gathered and we had a splendid party and