Òran na Muice-mhara

by Màiri Anna NicUalraig

Tha èigh nam chluais, beuc mara, 
Mar a dh’inniseadh nighean Mhic Eòghain 
Mun tighearnas shuas;
’S ged a bhiodh cuaille an dòrn, 
Gur mairg a rinn mo bhualadh, 
Ged a bhiodh cuaille an dòrn,
Gur mairg a rinn mo bhodhradh.

Às an doimhneachd, 
Às an doimhneachd seinnidh mi dhuibh, 
Is èiridh, is èiridh mo ghuth binn os cionn 
Èigh ùr às an doimhneachd, 
Às an doimhneachd seinnidh mi dhuibh, 
Is èiridh, is èiridh mo ghuth binn os cionn 
Èigh ùr na mara.

Fo bhalbhachd bàrr na fairge, 
Fo shoills na gealaich ’s nan reultan bhuam gu h-àrd, 
Nì cagar na mara mo ghiùlain a-null 
’S thèid mo dhàn a sheinn a-nochd 
Air cladach taobh thall a’ chuain. 

Tha èigh nam chluais, cha ghàir ach gaoir,  
Mar a dh’inniseadh nighean Mhic Eòghain 
Mun tighearnas shuas,
’S ged nach biodh cuaille an dòrn, 
Gur mairg a bho gam bhualadh, 
Ged nach biodh cuaille an dòrn,
Gur mairg a bhi gam bhodhradh.

Às an doimhneachd...  
 
Fo bhalbhachd bàrr na fairge, 
Fo shoills na gealaich ’s nan reultan bhuam gu h-àrd, 
Nì cagar na mara mo ghiùlain a-null 
’S thèid mo dhàn a sheinn a-nochd 
Air cladach taobh thall a’ chuain. 

Leanaidh mi slighe mo sheòrsa, 
Às an doimhneachd seinnidh mi leibh, mo chineal,
Mnà-uasal mise na tìre fo thuinn,
Ionnan sibhse a thilleas mo dhuan a-nochd 
Bho chladach taobh thall a’ chuain. 

Às an doimhneachd...   

The Song of the Whale

There’s a roar in my ears, an ocean’s-roar, 
As the daughter of Mac Eòghain would tell
Of the overlordship above; 
And though there were a club in hand, 
A shame it was to strike me, 
And though there were a club in hand,  
A shame it was to strike me deaf. 

From the depths, 
From the depths I will sing to you, 
And my sweet voice will rise, will rise above
The new roar from the depths, 
From the depths I will sing to you, 
And my sweet voice will rise, will rise above
The new roar of the ocean. 

Beneath the still silence of the ocean’s surface, 
Beneath the moonlight and the stars away above me,  
The sea’s whisper will carry me over 
And my song will be sung tonight 
On the shore of the other side of the ocean. 

There’s a roar in my ears, no laugh but a cry, 
As the daughter of Mac Eòghain would tell
Of the overlordship above; 
And though there were no club in hand, 
A shame it is to strike me, 
And though there were no club in hand,  
A shame it is to strike me deaf. 

From the depths...

Beneath the still silence of the ocean’s surface, 
Beneath the moonlight and the stars away above me,  
The sea’s whisper will carry me over 
And my song will be sung tonight 
On the shore of the other side of the ocean. 

I will follow the path of my kind, 
From the depths I will sing with you, my people. 
A noble-woman, me, of the realm beneath the waves, 
My equal are you who return my song tonight, 
From the shore of the other side of the ocean.

From the depths...