“Fear a’ bhàta” is a Scottish Gaelic song probably from the end of the 18th century which was also poured into English under the title “O Boatman” (My Boatman) while maintaining the chorus in Gaelic.
Of all the versions in English (see), the most precious from the point of view of writing is certainly that of 1849 with the words translated from Gaelic by Thomas Pattison and the melodic arrangement of Malcolm Lawson (published in “Songs of the North “, MacLeod and Harold Boulton, 1895)
The girl is waiting for a visit of the handsome boatman who seems instead to prefer other girls!
Silly Wizard from Caledonia’s Hardy Sons 1978, Andy Stewart – voice, Bob Thomas – guitar; Johnny Cunningham – mandola, Phil Cunningham – synthesizer
Sandy Denny
North Sea Gas from The Fire and the Passion of Scotland 2013
Thomas Pattison version I How often haunting the highest hilltop I scan the ocean I sail tae sea wilt come tonight love wilt come tomorrow? Wilt ever come, love, to comfort me? CHORUS Fhir a bhata no horo eil’e(1) Fhir a bhata no horo eil’e Fhir a bhata no horo eil’e o fare ye well(2), love, where e’er ye be II They call thee fickle, they call thee false one, and seek tae change me, but all in vain; no, thou art my dream yet throughout the dark night and every morn yet I watch the main |
III There’s not a hamlet -too well I know it- where you go wandering or stay(3) awhile but all its old folks you win wi’ talking and charm its maidens with song and smile IV Dost thou remember the promise made me the tartan plaidie, the silken gown, the ring of gold with thy hair and portrait(4)? That gown and ring I will never own |
NOTES
1) basically a non-sense phrase that some want to translate “and no one else” ie as “mine and no other”
2) it is both a greeting and a wish for good luck: My greeting to you wherever you go
3) or “sits”
4) It is a small medallion with the lid inside which there was a lover’s miniature and a lock of his/her hair
LINK
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4
