Fàgail Shiadair
William MacKenzie, Bàrd Cnoc Chusbaig, is one of Lewis’ best known bards and is an ancestor on my mother’s side. This song was composed shortly after the death of his beloved wife Màiri, ahead of his emigration to Canada. Heartbroken, he set sail for a new life but his thoughts remained with Màiri and Lewis.
Fàgail Shiadair air mo chasan
Thèid mi Mhallaig air a’ bhat’
‘S bheir an treine sinn a Ghlaschu
‘S gun dùil tighinn air ais gu bràth
Cha bhi dùil am tilleadh tuille
Ma thèid mi idir thar sàl
Tha falt mo chinn dhomh ag innse
Gu bheil mo thìde gu bhi ‘n àrd.
Chan fhaic mi na daoine chleachd mi
Chan fhaic mi sgadan no bata
Chan fhaic mi ann slige maoraich
‘S chan fhaic I faochag ann air tràigh
‘S chan fhaigh mi dubhan ann gu iasgach
‘S cha d’ thoir mi biathadh à tràigh
‘S chan fhaic mi either le seòl ann
rinn bi-beò a bh’ aig a’ bhàird
‘S ann a bhios mi measg nan craobhan
gach aon taobh dhiom iad ri fàs
‘S ged a dheanainn annta dìreadh
Chan fhaic mi ‘n tìr seo nam bàrr
​
Chan fhaicear leam Eilean Leòdhais
‘S chan fhaic mi ‘n t-Siumpan na h-Àirde
‘S chan fhaicear leam cladh na h-Aoide
Ged tha m’inntinn ann an sàs
Far na dh’ fhàg mi leth mo chride
Dh’ fhàg mi gille ann nach robh ceàrr
Dh’ fhàg mi ‘n aisne bha nam thaobh ann
Cnaimh bu dilse dhomh thar cach
Dh’ fhàg mi aon ann de m’ fhiaclan
Thug mi as mo bheul le cràdh
‘S e coltach gum biodh iomadh mile
Eadar i ‘s far ‘n cuirear càch
Walking through Shader as I leave
I'll head to Mallaig on the boat
From there the trainn will take us to Glasgow
Without ever expecting to return
I don't believe I will be back here
If I ever mange to even cross the ocean
The hair of my head tell me
That my time is almost up.
I wont see the people I used
I wont see the herring or a boat
I wont see any shellfish
Or a winkle on the shore
I wont get a hook to fish there
Nor take food from the shore
Neither will I see a boat with her sails
That was the livelihood of the bard.
For me I will be amongst the trees
On each side of me they'll grow
And even if I was to climb to them
I wouldn't see this land from their tops.
​
I wont see the Isle of Lewis
I wont see the Tiumpan of Aird
And I wont see the Eye Cemetry
Where my mind continually wonders.
Where I left the other half of my heart
I left a son who was perfect
I left the rib from my side
More faithful than any other could be.
I left there one of my teeth
Which I painfully removed from my mouth
When it appears that there will be many miles
From she lies and where we will be.