Cailleach liath Ratharsaigh
(The Grey Haired Old Lady from Raasay)

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I was exposed to this port-a -beul (mouth music) when I was making my last CD in North River, the fine traditional fiddler, Joe Peter MacLean(Eòs Peadair Mac Thearlaich Eòis) was at the rehearsal playing this tune and singing this port at the same time I asked about this tune at that time. As in most mouth music the words are quite silly!

“Grey-haired old woman from Raasay, Hundreds calling on her
Grey-haired old woman from Raasay and the fat old woman from Rona”.

Cailleach liath Ratharsaigh na ceudan a' tathaich oirre,
Cailleach liath Ratharsaigh is cailleach reamhar Rònaigh.
Cailleach liath Ratharsaigh na ceudan a' tathaich oirre,
Cailleach liath Ratharsaigh is cailleach reamhar Rònaigh

Cailleach dhubh nan cudaigean 's iomadh gin a shluig thu dhiubh,
Cailleach dhubh nan cudaigean is cailleach luideach Rònaigh.
Cailleach dhubh nan cudaigean 's iomadh gin a shluig thu dhiubh,
Cailleach dhubh nan cudaigean is cailleach luideach Rònaigh

Cailleach liath Shligeachan a' bhèist tha mo phriobaid oirre,
Cailleach liath Shligeachan is cailleach chliobach mhòr i.
Cailleach liath Shligeachan a' bhèist tha mo phriobaid oirre,
Cailleach liath Shligeachan is cailleach chliobach mhòr i.

Cailleach liath Ratharsaigh
(The Grey Haired Old Lady from Raasay)

Grey-haired old woman from Raasay
Hundreds calling on her
Grey-haired old woman from Raasay and
The fat old woman from Rona.

The black-haired woman of the cuddies
You swallowed many of them
The black-haired woman of the cuddies
The messy old woman from Rona.

Grey-haired old woman from Sligeachan
She means nothing to me
Grey-haired old woman from Sligeachan
She is a big clumsy old woman