Nach truagh leat mi 's mi 'm prìosan
Mo Mhaili bheag òg?
Do chàirdean a' cur binn orm,
Mo chuid dhe 'n t-saoghal thu;
A bhean na mala mìne
'S na pògan mar na fìogais
'S tu nach fhàgadh shìos mi
Le mi-rùn do bheòil.
Di Dòmhnaich anns a' ghleann dhuinn
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Nuair a thòisich mi ri cainnt riut,
Mo chuid dhe 'n t-saoghal mhòr;
Nuair a dh'fhosgail mi mo shùilean,
'S a sheall mi air mo chùlaibh,
Bha marcaich' nan each crùdhach,
'Tighinn dlùth air mo thòir.
'S mis' a bh'air mo bhuaireadh,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Nuair thànaig sluagh mun cuairt dhuinn,
Mo ribhinn ghlan ùr;
Is truagh anns an uair sin
Nach do thuit mo làmh o m'ghualainn,
Mun d'amais mi do bhualadh,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg.
Gur bòidhche leam a dh'fhàs thu,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Na 'n lilì anns an fhàsach,
Mo chiad ghràdh 's mo rùn;
Mar aiteal caoin na gréineadh,
Am madainn chiùin ag éirigh,
B'e siud do dhreach 's t'eugais,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg.
The story goes that Maili bheag òg was the daughter of a
Perthshire laird.
She and a young officer eloped on a Saturday night and were pursued
by
her father and his house guards. The couple was overtaken on Sunday
in
a remote glen. During the ensuing skirmish, the officer accidentally
killed
his sweetheart with a sword blow. Waiting in prison for his
execution, he
made this song for her. The air of this setting is from the late
Malcom
Angus MacLeod (Calum Thormaid Chaluim) of Skir Dhu, Victoria County,
Cape Breton. Wendy is playing a tune by Cape Breton composer Jerry
Holland.
Guitars: Brad Davidge, John Gzowski, Phil Strong
Drums: Geoff Arsenault
Bass: Ed Woodsworth
Fiddle: Wendy MacIsaac Bodhran, Bazouki,
Percussion: Ben Grossman
Trumpet: David Travers-Smith
Recorded at: Soundpark Studios (Irish Cove, N.S.) by Jamie Foulds ,
at Reaction and Somnambulab Studios by Phil Strong.
Mo Mhaili Bheag Òg Traditional/Arrangement: Geoff
Arsenault, Ed Woodsworth,
Mary Jane Lamond, Wendy MacIsaac, Brad Davidge
Do you not pity here in prison, my little young Molly?
Your friends are condemning me, you my whole world. O
woman of the smooth eyebrows and kisses as sweet as
figs, you would not degrade me with malice from your
mouth.
It was on Sunday as we rode through
the glen that I began conversing with you, all that I
have on earth. When I opened my eyes and looked over my
shoulder, the riders on shoed horses were drawing near
in my pursuit.
I became confounded, my little young
Molly, when we were surrounded by a host, my innocent,
young girl. It's a pity that my arm did not then fall
from my shoulder before I happened to strike you with a
sword blow, my little young Molly.
You have grown to be lovelier than the
wild meadow's lily, my first love and darling. In your
hue and form, you were like a soft ray of sunshine on a
still morning, my little young Molly.
The story goes that Maili bheag òg was the
daughter of a Perthshire laird. She and a young officer
eloped on a Saturday night and were pursued by her
father and his house guards. The couple was overtaken on
Sunday in a remote glen. During the ensuing skirmish,
the officer accidentally killed his sweetheart with a
sword blow. Waiting in prison for his execution, he made
this song for her. The air of this setting is from the
late Malcom Angus MacLeod (Calum Thormaid Chaluim) of
Skir Dhu, Victoria County, Cape Breton. Wendy is playing
a tune by Cape Breton composer Jerry Holland.
Guitars: Brad Davidge, John Gzowski, Phil Strong
Drums: Geoff Arsenault
Bass: Ed Woodsworth
Fiddle: Wendy MacIsaac Bodhran, Bazouki,
Percussion: Ben Grossman
Trumpet: David Travers-Smith
Recorded at: Soundpark Studios (Irish Cove, N.S.) by
Jamie Foulds , at Reaction and Somnambulab Studios by
Phil Strong.