Blair Collection > Treatise on the language, poetry, and music of the Highland clans

274
THE MUSIC
Gu'n d' thugadh crodh Chailleaii
gun duga' cro' chayllen
Dhorah bainne air an f hraoch,
yov baynne ajr an raoch
Gu'n chuman, gu'n bhuarach *
gun chuman gun Tu-ar-ach
Gu'n laircean,t gu'n laogh.
gnu layrcen gun lao'
Fotin : —
Crodh Chaillean mo chridhe,
cro' chayllen mo chri'-e
Crodli Chaillean mo ghaoil ;
cro' chayllen mo yaoyl
Gu'n d' thugadh crodli Chaillean
gun duga' cro' chayllen
Dhomh bainne air an fhraoch.
yov baynne ayr an raoch
CRODH CHAILLEAN.
(Probably because tlie owner userl to sing the lilt.)
The milk-cows of Colin
Would give me milk on the heather,
Without a pail or a shackle,
A layrcen or a calf.
Chorus : —
The cows of Colin of my heart,
The cows of Colin of my love :
The cows of Colin
Would give me milk on the heather.
The following is another specimen of the milking song, the air of which I
have received from Mrs Lang.
TILL AN CRODH A' DHONNACHAIDH. — TURN THE KINE, DUNCAN.
Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh,
till an cro' yonna-chay'
Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh,
till an cro' yonna-chay'
Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh,
till an cro' yonna-chay'
'S gheibh u bean bhoideach.
's yeyv u ben voy'-ech
Turn the kine, Duncan,
Turn the kine, Duncan,
Turn the kine, Duncan,
And you will get a bonny wife.
Chorus : —
Turn the white-ridged black cows.
Fonn : —
Till an crodh drimean dubh,
till an cro' drimen duv
Odhar dubh ceannean dubh,
o'-ar duv cennen duv
Till an crodh drimean dubh,
till an cro' drimen duv
'S gheibh u bean bhoidheach, &c.
's yeyv n ben voy'-ech
* " Buarach," a hair shackle for tying the hind legs of restive or fierce tempered cows wliils
•-milking.
t " Laircean" or " tulachan," a wicker basket shaped like a calf, and covered with a calf-skin, pisred
b«foro a cow to soothe her with the well recognised scent of her calf, after it is killed.
Dark-dun white-faced cows,
Turn the white-ridged black cows.
And you will get a bonny wife, etc.