Blàr Inbhir Lòchaidh (The Battle of Inverlochy)

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I thought I knew some tragic laments but this one is the saddest yet. This very old song is said to have been composed by a Campbell woman after the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645. In this battle the Campbells and the Covenanters were routed by Montrose and his troops. It is said that little quarter was given as we can hear as this woman sings of losing her, father, husband, four brothers and three sons in the battle as well as having her fields and animals burned. It was collected by John Lorne Campbell from Angus “The Ridge” MacDonald of Lower South River, Antigonish County.

"It is I who am lost, na i ri ri si ri o ro
I have been deeply wounded, na i ro ri o ho.
Since the day of the Battle of Inverlochy, na i ro ri o ho…”

'S gur e mise th' air m'aineol, na i ri ri si ri o ro
O gur mise th' air mo leònadh, na i ro ri o ho.

O gur mise th'air mo leònadh, na i ri ri si ri o ro
Bho latha Blàr Inbhir Lòchaidh, na i ro ri o ho

Bho latha..etc.
Fo ruaig nan Èireannach dòithte, na i ro ri o ho.

Thàinig a dh' Albainn gun stòras, na i ro ri o ho.

Le bhi dh’earrasair an cleòcaibh, na i ro ri o ho.

Thug iad spionnadh do Chlann Dhòmhnuill, na i ro ri o ho

Mharbh iad m' athair is m' fhear pòsda, na i ro ri o ho.

Mo thriùir mhacanan òga, na i ro ri o ho

'S mo cheathrar bhràithrean gan stròiceadh, na i ro ri o ho.

Loisg iad mo chuid coirc' is eòrna, na i ro ri o ho.

Mharbh iad mo chrodh mór gu feòlach, na i ro ri o ho.

'S mo chaoraich gheala gan ròsladh, na hi ro ri o ho.

Gur e mi a th'air mo leònadh, na i ro ri o ho.

Blàr Inbhir Lòchaidh (The Battle of Inverlochy)

It is I who am lost, na i ri ri si ri o ro
I have been deeply wounded, na i ro ri o ho.
Since the day of the Battle of Inverlochy, na i ro ri o ho.
Being routed by the churlish Irishmen, na i ro ri o ho.
Who came to Scotland with nothing but their cloaks, na i ri ri si ri o ro
They gave strength to the MacDonalds, na i ro ri o ho.
They slew my father and my husband, na i ri ri si ri o ro
And my three sons, na i ri ri si ri o ro
And my four brothers were struck down, na i ri ri si ri o ro
They burned my oats and my barley, na i ri ri si ri o ro
They killed my big beefy cattle, na i ri ri si ri o ro
And my white sheep, they roasted, na i ri ri si ri o ro.
I have been deeply wounded, na i ri ri si ri o ro