A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi (O love, let me home to my mother)

A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi (O fammi tornare a casa dalla mamma) è un canto in gaelico scozzese proveniente dalle Isole Ebridi: è la supplica di una fanciulla rapita dal kelpie^[1] affinchè le sia concesso di ritornare a casa.

Sebbene le fanciulle scozzesi siano dissuase da molti racconti popolari ad andarsene sole solette per la brughiera e sulle rive dei loch, c’è sempre quella più ingenua o avventurosa, la quale immancabilmente finisce per fare brutti incontri..
Era consuetudine, di questo solitario mutaforma acquatico, prendere una sposa umana per sentirsi meno solo, ma non sempre le spose erano felici di vivere sul fondo del lago con il kelpie!

A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi

Nella versione di Julie Fowlis è solo la ragazza a parlare e a supplicare il suo “rapitore” di lasciarla ritornare a casa “come mamma l’ha fatta”
Scottish Gaelic,
I
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi;
A ghràidh, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi;
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhàthair mi –
An tòir chrodh-laoigh a thàine mi.
II
Gur ann a-raoir a chuala mi
Mo ghaol a bhith ri buachailleachd,
’S ged fhuair thu ’n iomall na buaile mi,
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh mar fhuair thu mi.
[Esan: Ged ‘s ann a-raoir a chuala tu
Do ghaol a bhi ri buachailleachd,
‘S ged fhuair mi ‘n iomall na buaile thu,
Cha lig mi dhachaigh mar fhuair mi thu !]
III
‘S mi dìreadh ris na gàrraidhean,
’S a’ teàrnadh ris na fàirichean,
Gun d’ thachair fleasgach bàigheil rium,
’S cha d’ dh’ fheuch e bonn ga chàirdeis rium.
[Esan: ‘S tu direadh ris na gàraidhean,
‘S a’ teärnadh ris na fàirichean,
Gun d’ thachair fleasgach baidheil riut,
‘S cha d’ fheuch e bonn g’ a chàirdeas riut.]
[Ise: Trodaidh mo phiuthar ‘s mo bhràthair rium,
Trodaidh mo chinne ‘s mo chàirdean rium,
Trodaidh m’ athair ‘s mo mhàthair rium,
Mur téid mi dhachaigh mar thàinig mi.
Esan: Ged throdadh do phiuthar ‘s do bhràthair riut,
Ged throdadh do chinne ‘s do chàirdean riut,
Ged throdadh d’ athair ‘s do mhàthair riut,
Cha téid thu dhachaigh mar thàinig thu.]
(IV
Ged bheireadh tu crodh agus caoraich dhomh,
Ged bheireadh tu eachaibh air thaodaibh dhomh,
Ged bheireadh tu sin agus daoine dhomh,
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh mar fhuair thu mi.
V
Trodaidh m’ athair ’s mo mhàthair riut,
Trodaidh mo chinneadh ’s mo chàirdean riut,
Ach marbhaidh mo thriùir bhràithrean thu
Mura tèid mi dhachaigh mar thàine mi.
VI
Gheall mo mhàthair gùn thoirt dhomh,
Gheall i ribean a b’ ùire dhomh,
Is gheall i breacan ùr thoirt dhomh)

[English transaltion]
A ghaoil, leig dhachaigh gum mhathair mi (O love, let me home to my mother) is a Scottish Gaelic song from the Hebrides: it is the plea of a girl kidnapped by the kelpie^[1] to be allowed to return home. It was customary for the Kelpie to take a human bride to feel less alone, but the brides were not always happy to live on the bottom of the lake, to take care of the kelpie’s house! Although the Scottish maidens are dissuaded by many folk tales to walk alone on the moors and on the banks of the loch, there is always the most innocent or adventurous, which inevitably ends up making bad encounters.

This song takes the form of a conversation between a girl and a water horse/Kelpie. The girl is asking him to let her return home to her mother. The water horse has other ideas. It is clear from the last verse that the girl escaped.

Le registrazioni sul campo archiviate in Tobar An Dualchais
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/104490/4
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/36511/4
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/85703/4
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/26812/4

Le strofe numerate sono quelle cantate da Julie Fowlis, le strofe tra parentesi quadre sono quelle omesse
Dalla IV alla VI strofa una variante del finale [https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/293036808.pdf]

traduzione italiana Cattia Salto
I
Mio caro, fammi tornare a casa dalla mamma
Fammi tornare a casa dalla mamma
Amore (1), fammi tornare a casa dalla mamma
Sono arrivata qui solo per [accudire] il bestiame.
II
Era appena la notte scorsa
quando sentii il mio amore venire al pascolo
E anche se mi trovasti ai bordi del pascolo
Fammi tornare a casa come mi hai trovata.
III
Mi arrampicavo sulle erte
E scendevo dalle creste,
Quando un giovanotto cordiale mi ha incontrato
E non mi ha imposto la sua amicizia.
IV
Anche se tu potessi darmi bestiame e pecore,
Anche se tu potessi darmi dei cavalli impastoiati,
Anche se tu potessi darmi questo e dei servitori,
Fammi tornare a casa come mi hai trovata.
V
Mia madre e mio padre ti puniranno
Il mio clan e i miei parenti ti puniranno
Ma i miei tre fratelli ti uccideranno (2)
Se non tornassi a casa come sono venuta.
VI
Mia madre mi ha promesso un abito
Decorato con i nastri più nuovi
E mi ha promesso un mantello nuovo
Se ritornerò a casa come mi hai trovata.

English translation *
I
Love, let me home to my mother
Darling, let me home to my mother
Love, let me home to my mother
I only came for the cattle.
II
It was only last night
That I heard that my love was herding
And though you found me at the brim of the fold
Love, let me home as you found me.
III
I was clambering up the dykes
And descending the ridges
When a friendly lad met me
And he did not enforce his friendship on me.
IV
Though you were to give me cattle and sheep
Though you were to give me tethered horses
Though you were to give me that and men
Love, let me home as you found me.
V
My mother and father will chastise you
My clan and my relatives will chastise you
But my three brothers will kill you
If I don’t return home as I came.
VI
My mother promised me a gown
Decorated with the newest of ribbons
And she promised me a new plaid
If I return home the way you found me.