The Braes o’ Gleniffer written by Robert Tannahill in 1806 was initially combined with the melody “Bonnie Dundee“, later sung on the melody “Saw ye my wee thing ” composed by John Ross of Aberdeen,
A young girl complains about having to part from Johnny, who left as a soldier, and she awaits his return, remembering the times she spent wandering together on The Braes o’ Glenifer. Thus the winter season reflects the pain in her soul.
Today the Gleniffer hill is included in a park, the Robertson Country Park, formed by wooded areas and moorland, on the ridge you can enjoy the panoramic view of Paisley and the Clyde valley.
The Braes o’ GlenifFer
I
Keen blaws the win’ o’er the braes o’ Gleniffer
The auld castle’s turrets (1) are covered wi’ snaw
How changed frae the time when I met wi’ my lover
Amang the brume bushes by Stanley green shaw (2)
II
The wild flowers o’ simmer were spread a’ sae bonnie
The Mavis sang sweet frae the green birkin tree
But far to the camp they ha’e marched my dear Johnnie
And now it is winter wi’ nature and me
III
Then ilk thing aroun’ us was blythsome and cheery
Then ilk thing aroun’ us was bonnie and braw
Now naething is heard but the win’ whistlin’ dreary
And naething is seen by the wide spreadin’ snaw
IV
The trees are a’ bare, and the birds mute and dowie
They shake the cauld drift frae their wings as they flee
And chirp out their plaints, seeming wae for my Johnnie
‘Tis winter wi’ them and ‘tis winter wi’ me
V
Yon caul sleety could skiffs alang the bleak mountain
And shakes the dark firs on the stey rocky brae
While doun the deep glen bawls the snaw-flooded fountain (3)
That murmur’d sae sweet to my laddie an’ me
VI
‘Tis no’ its loud roar, on the wintry win’ swellin’
‘Tis no’ the caul’ blast brings the tear to my e’e
For, oh, gin I saw my bonnie Scots callan
The dark days o’ winter war simmer tae me
The Braes o’ Gleniffer scritta da Robert Tannahill nel 1806 fu abbinata inizialmente alla melodia “Bonnie Dundee”, in seguito si cantò sulla melodia “Saw ye my wee thing” composta da John Ross di Aberdeen.
Una fanciulla si lamenta per essersi dovuta separare dal suo Johnny, partito come soldato, e ne attende il ritorno, ricordando i tempi trascorsi a vagabondare insieme sulla collina di Gleniffer.
Così la stagione invernale riflette il tormento nell’animo dell’innamorata.
Oggi la collina di Gleniffer è compresa in un parco, il Robertson Country Park, formato da zone boschive e brughiera, sul crinale si gode la vista panoramica di Paisley e della valle del Clyde.
Sam Monaghan in The Tannahill Song Book 2000
English translation Cattia Salto
I
Keen blows the wind over the hillside of Gleniffer
The old castle’s turrets (1) are covered with snow
How changed from the time when I met with my lover
Among the broom bushes by Stanley green shaw (2)
II
The wild flowers of summer were spread all so bonny
The song thrush sang sweet from the green birch tree
But far to the camp they have marched my dear Johnny
And now it is winter with nature and me
III
Then every thing around us was blithesome and cheery
Then every thing around us was bonnie and braw
Now nothing is heard but the wind whistling dreary
And nothing is seen by the wide spreading snow
IV
The trees are all bare, and the birds mute and sad
They shake the cold drift from their wings as they flee
And chirp out their plaints, seeming woe for my Johnnie
This is winter with them and this is winter with me
V
That call sleety cold blow over along the bleak mountain
And shakes the dark firs on the steep rocky hill
While down the deep glen bawls the snow-flooded fountain (3)
That murmured so sweet to my lad and me
VI
This is now its loud roar,
on the wintry wind swelling
This is now the cold blast
brings the tear to my eye
For, oh, if I saw my bonnie Scots lad
The dark days of winter will be summer to me
NOTE
1) Stanley Castle surrounded by low hills, already in ruins at the time of Tannahill, today only the vestiges of a tower remain in the middle of a pond, created in 1838 as a reservoir for the town
2) The Paisley forest was initially divided into three large areas called Stanely, Thornly and Fereneze, the north side later became Paisley Braes, or Braes of Gleniffer, the south side Fereneze Braes. “The lands of Stanely, part of the ridge of Paisley Braes, were granted by King Robert III. to Sir Robert Danyelston in 1392. One of his two daughters and co-heiresses married Sir Robert Maxwell, laird of Calderwood, in the parish of East Kilbride, and these lands, along with others, were allocated to Lady Calderwood. In the middle of the 15th century, the Maxwell family built on the lands a strong baronial residence, a massive piece of masonry, 40 feet high, which became well known by the name of Stanely Castle. The Maxwells continued in possession of the estate for several generations, and John Maxwell, in 1629, with consent of his son John, sold the estate to Jean Hamilton, dowager of Robert, fourth Lord Ross. It has continued in the Ross-Boyle families till the present time. The roof was taken off in 1714, when the “auld castle’s turrets” and the inside of the building were exposed to the inclemency of the weather. Stanely Castle, so hoary and grey, is now surrounded with a fine sheet of water,—the Reservoir of the Paisley Water Works.” (from here)
3) the area is rich in streams and spectacular waterfalls, in the Park the Tannahill Walkway and the Tannahill Well are dedicated to the poet
traduzione italiana di Cattia Salto
I
Lamentoso soffia il vento sulla collina di Gleniffer
e i torrioni del vecchio castello sono ricoperti di neve,
come mutato da quando mi incontravo con il mio amore
tra i cespugli di ginestra nel verde boschetto di Stanley.
II
I fiori selvatici dell’estate erano tutti sbocciati così belli,
il tordo cantava dolcemente tra la verde betulla
ma via dall’accampamento hanno fatto marciare il mio caro Johnny/ e adesso è inverno nella natura e in me.
III
Allora ogni cosa intorno a noi era gioiosa e allegra,
allora ogni cosa intorno a noi era bella e giusta,
ora si sente solo il vento che soffia triste
e non si vede altro che la neve sparsa dappertutto.
IV
Gli alberi sono tutti spogli e gli uccelli muti e tristi,
scuotono l’aria fredda dalle ali mentre fuggono/e cinguettano i loro lamenti, forieri di guai per il mio Johnny.
Questo è l’Inverno per loro e questo è l’inverno per me.
V
Che richiama nevischio e vento freddo sulle cime brulle
e scuote i cupi abeti sulla ripida collina rocciosa,
mentre nella gola profonda crepita la cascata coperta dalla neve
che mormorava così dolcemente al mio ragazzo e a me.
VI
Questo è ora il suo forte ruggito
sul vento invernale che si ingrossa,
questi sono ora i colpi del freddo
che mi fanno lacrimare gli occhi,
oh se potessi vedere il mio bel scozzese,
i bui giorni dell’inverno sarebbero la mia estate!
NOTE
1) Stanley Castle è circondato da basse colline, già diroccato ai tempi di Tannahill, oggi restano solo le vestigia di una torre in mezzo ad un laghetto, ricavato nel 1838 come bacino idrico per la cittadina
2) [la foresta di Paisley inizialmente fu suddivisa in tre grandi aree chiamate Stanely, Thornly e Fereneze, il lato nord divenne poi Paisley Braes, ovvero Braes of Gleniffer, il lato sud Fereneze Braes. “Le terre di Stanely, parte della dorsale di Paisley Braes, furono concesse dal re Roberto III a Sir Robert Danyelston nel 1392. Una delle sue due figlie sposò Sir Robert Maxwell, laird di Calderwood, nella parrocchia di East Kilbride, e queste terre, insieme ad altre, furono assegnate a Lady Calderwood. A metà del XV secolo, la famiglia Maxwell costruì sulle terre una massiccia residenza baronale in pietra alta 40 piedi, che divenne famosa con il nome di Stanely Castle. I Maxwell continuarono a possedere la tenuta per diverse generazioni, e John Maxwell, nel 1629, con il consenso di suo figlio John, vendette la proprietà a Jean Hamilton, la vedova di Robert, il quarto Lord Ross. E’ rimasta alle famiglie di Ross-Boyle fino ai giorni nostri. Il tetto crollò 1714, quando le “auld castle’s turrets” e l’interno dell’edificio furono esposti alle intemperie del tempo. Il castello di Stanely, così canuto e grigio, è ora circondato da un sottile specchio d’acqua, il bacino idrico di Paisley.”]
3) [la zona è ricca di ruscelli e spettacolari cascate, nel Parco sono dedicati al poeta la Tannahill Walkway e il Tannahill Well]
Gleniffer Braes Country Park
Una brughiera scozzese con qualche bosco secolare residuale e aree agricole collinari, tanti sentieri tra cui quello dedicato ai luoghi preferiti da Robert Tannahill, abbondanza di ruscelli e cascate. Vedute panoramiche su Paisley e sulla Clyde Valley fino al Ben Lomond.
LINK
http://www.tannahillweavers.com/lyrics/1193lyr4.htmhttp://www.grianpress.com/Tannahill/TANNAHILL’S%20SONGS%204.htmhttp://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/wps/wcm/connect/6bb7b542-a62f-4bd7-93cb-b083ff493d25/pt-as-JohnstoneToPaisley.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=6bb7b542-a62f-4bd7-93cb-b083ff493d25
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/10801/
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