Mairi's Wedding
Lewis Wedding Song
(Traditional)
Sir Hugh S. Robertson, 1936 from the original Gaelic
Over hillways up and down
Myrtle green and bracken brown,
Past the sheilings through the town
All for sake of Mairi.
Chorus:
Step we gaily, on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe,
Arm in arm and row on row
All for Mairi's wedding.
Red her cheeks as rowans are
Bright her eyes as any star,
Fairest o' them all by far
Is our darlin' Mairi.
Chorus
Plenty herring, plenty meal
Plenty peat to fill her creel,
Plenty bonny bairns as weel
That's the toast for Mairi.
Chorus
---
Original Gaelic John Bannerman, 1935
Refrain:
'S i mo ghaol-sa Màiri Bhàn
Màiri bhòidheach sgeul mo dhàin,
Gaol mo chridh'-sa Màiri Bhàn,
'S tha mi 'dol 'ga pòsadh.
Thuit mi ann an gaol an raoir,
Bha mo chridhe shuas air beinn,
Màiri Bhàn ri m' thaobh a' seinn;
Tha mi 'dol 'ga pòsadh.
'S ann aig céilidh aig a' Mhòd
Thachair mise ris an òigh'
'S i-se choisinn am Bonn Òir;
'S tha mi 'dol 'ga pòsadh.
Bi mo ghaol do Mhàiri Bhàn
Dìleas, dùrachail gu bràth,
Seinnidh sinn d'a chéil' ar gràdh;
'S tha mi 'dol 'ga pòsadh.
Literal tr. J. Mark Sugars, 1999
Refrain:
She's my darling, Fair Mary
Pretty Mary, story of my song,
Darling of my heart, Fair Mary,
And I'm going to her wedding.
I fell in love last night,
My heart was on top of a mountain,
Fair Mary beside me singing;
I'm going to her wedding.
At the ceílidh at the Mòd
I met with the lassie,
And she won the Gold Medal;
And I'm going to her wedding.
My love for Fair Mary would be
Faithful, sincere forever,
We'll sing of our love to each other;
And I'm going to her wedding.