The Gaelic name Srath Bhàthain translates to English as “the valley of the Blane”, with reference to the Blane Water is ‘The Braes of Strathblane’ ballad, also sung in Scottish Gaelic, may have originated in Stirlingshire; it is however widespread in the Hebrides and in Ireland like “The Banks of Strathdon”
‘The Braes of Strathblane’ is a song which is firmly based in the oral tradition. As a result it is difficult to pinpoint its origins and author. It is, however, one of many folksongs which feature the braes of a village and young love. This song, indeed, an identical match to the lyrics of ‘The Braes of Strathdon’, which lies in Aberdeenshire. On other broadsides the suggested to tune to these lyrics is often ‘As I stood at my cottage door’. ( see)
SCOTTISH GAELIC VERSION
Widespread in the Hebrides and sung in Scottish Gaelic ballad’s history is a bit unusual compared to the “courting songs”: a young washerwoman refuses the proposal of marriage of her suitor (apparently a idle lad and not liked by her parents) and he instead to wander desperately and disconsolate for some distant valley (as would happen in an Irish song) goes to woo some other more available girl. In the last verses the girl complains about having let slip the opportunity to get married (with the fear of being a spinster forever)!
Capercaillie in “Delirium”, 1991.
English translation * I Walking out early alone on a morning in May Among green fields, an outcast and purposeless, I saw a maiden who lived some way above me As she washed her clothes out on the slopes of Strath Ban. II I then climbed upwards to the maiden I loved was And courteously and mildly I spoke to her “It’s over a year since our love began, And if you are willing we shall marry at once.” III “Marry? To Marry I’m too young Your sort has tongue that could cause trouble anywhere; My father and mother would scold me forever more If I were to marry the likes of you, you feckless young man.’ IV But you young girls everywhere who are still unmarried, Don’t go turning young men down through pride or contempt. How sad for me to be unmarried forever more- I’ll have to live alone, out on the slopes of Strath Ban. |
I ‘S mi ri imeachd nam aonar Anns an òg-mhadain Mhàigh Feadh lèantaichean uaine Mar fhear-fuadain gun stàth Nuair a chunnaic mi a’ ghruagach An taobh shuas dhiom a’ tàmh ‘S i ri nigh’a cuid aodaich Mach air aodann Srath Bhàin II An sin dhìrich mi suas Far ‘n robh gruagach mo ghràidh Is labhair mi rithe Gu sìobhalta tlàth “Tha bliadhn’agus còrr Bhon a thòisich an gràdh Is ma bhitheas tu deònach Nì sinn pòsadh gun dàil” III “Gu pòsadh, gu pòsadh Ro òg tha mi ‘n dràsd’ Gu bheil teang’aig do sheòrsa Dhèanadh fògradh ‘s gach àit Gum biodh m’athair ‘s mo mhàthair Gam chàineadh gu bràth Nam pòsainn do leithid O fhleasgaich gun stàth” IV Ach a nìonagan òga Tha gun phòsadh ‘s gach àit’ Na diùltaibh fir òga Le mòrchuis no tàir Nach muladach dhòmhsa Bhith gun phòsadh gu bràth ‘S fheudar fuireach nam aonar Mach air aodann Srath Bhàin |
NOTES
(1) The Blane Water has also been referred to as Beul-abhainn meaning “mouth-river” after the numerous burns merging.One of its tributaries, the Ballagan Burn passes over the waterfall the Spout of Ballagan which shows 192 alternate strata of coloured shales and limestone (including pure alabaster) (from Wiki)
LINK
http://glasgowpictures.blogspot.it/2010/02/high-ballagan-waterfall.html
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/strathblane-p240461
http://digital.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/20794
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/capercaillie/aodann.htm