Lyrics Julie Fowlis – Smeorach Chlann Domhnaill (The Mavis Of Clan Donald)

Hoilibheag hilibheag hò-aill-il ò,
Hoilibheag hilibheag hò-rò ì,
Hoilibheag hilibheag hò-aill-il ò,
Smeòrach le Clann Dòmhnaill mì.

Smeòrach mis’ air ùrlar Phaibil
Crùbadh ann an dùsal cadail,
Gun deòrachd a thèid na ’s fhaide,
Truimid mo bhròn, thòirleum m’ aigne.

Smeòrach mis’ air mullach beinne
’G amharc grèin’ is speuran soilleir;
Thig mi stòlda chòir na coille —
Bidh mi beò air treòdas eile.

Ma mholas gach eun a thìr fèin
Cuim thar èis nach moladh mise
Tìr nan curaidh, tìr nan cliar,
An tìr bhiadhchar, fhialaidh mhiosail?

‘N tìr nach caol ri cois na mara,
An tìr ghaolach, chaomhnach, channach,
An tìr laoghach, uanach, mheannach:
Tìr an arain, bhainneach, mhealach.

An Cladh Chomhghain mise rugadh,
’N Àird an Rùnair fhuair mi togail,
Fradharc a’ chuain uaibhrich chuislich,
Nan stuagh guanach cluaineach cluiceach.

Measg Chlann Dòmhnaill fhuair mi m’ altrum —
Buidheann nan seòl ’s nan sròl daithe,
Nan long luath air chuantaibh farsaing,
Aiteam nach ciùin rùsgadh ghlaslann.

Translation:
Hoilibheag hilibheag hò-aill-il ò,

A mavis I on Paible’s flat,
Huddled in a drowse of sleep,
Without misery that can go farther
My sorrow is the heavier (therefore) my spirit has fallen.

A mavis I on a mountain top,
Watching sun and cloudless skies;
Softly I approach the forest —
I shall live in other wise.

If every bird praises its own land
Why then should not I?
Land of heroes, land of poets
The abundant, hospitable, estimable land.

The land not narrow near the sea,
The delectable, mild, comely land,
The land of calves and lambs and kids,
The land of bread and milk and honey.

ln Comgan’s Churchyard I was born,
In Àird an Runnair I was reared,
In sight of the proud throbbing sea,
Of the sportive, fickle, playful waves.

Among Clan Donald I was nursed,
They of of sails and coloured banners
Of swift ships on wide seas
A people not mild when baring grey blades.