SET
ScottishCatalogue no. 1517b
An ainm an àigh
In the name of the Wee Man
Music: Emily Doolittle, Words: Rody Gorman
Voicing: SA
Performance time approx: 2m 00s
Range S: b♭ – f'' / A: b♭ – f''
Price code:
Complexity:
This piece is part of the set "Dàn nan ròn SET".
It is not available for purchase as a single piece.
The set also includes:
The second song in the suite Dàn nan ròn is a love song addressed to a woman who has disappeared — like a seal or a ship at sea. The verses, in unison, each end with the heartfelt and exasperated line ‘Nach tig thu air ais thug am an ainm an àigh’ (Won’t you come back to me in the name of God). The refrains are once again rhythmic vocables in the style of Gaelic puirt-a-beul. ‘The Wee Man’ is a Glasgow moniker for God.
Tharraing mi a h-ainm shìos air an tràigh
Tharraing mi a h-ainm shìos air an tràigh:
Nach tig thu air ais thug am an ainm an àigh
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì
Air far al a leò ro ho bhi ò chall o ho ro bhì
Nach briomal ’s rinn e gusgal air feadh a’ bhàig
Nach briomal ’s rinn e gusgal air feadh a’ bhàig:
Nach tig thu air ais thug am an ainm an àigh
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì etc.
Thug mi suil bhuam agus chan fhaca mi a dhath
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri ri chan fhaca mi a dhath:
Nach tig thu air ais thug am an ainm Nì Math
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì etc.
Nochd soitheach air an fhàire is dh’fhalbh i na gath
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì u dh’fhalbh i na gath:
Nach tig thu air ais thug am an ainm an àigh.
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì etc.
lyrics and translation © copyright Rody Gorman 2011 and used with permission
In the name of the Wee Man*
I drew her name down on the shore
I drew her name down on the shore:
Won’t you come back to me in the name of God
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì
Air far al a leò ro ho bhi ò chall o ho ro bhì
An old male seal popped up and started his din all around the bay
An old male seal popped up and started his din all around the bay:
Won’t you come back to me in the name of God
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì etc.
I looked over and didn’t see a thing
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì I didn’t see a thing:
Won’t you come back to me in the name of God
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì etc.
A ship appeared on the horizon and darted away
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì u she darted away:
Won’t you come back to me in the name of God
Ù hoireann ò hi rì ri rì o u e o hao ri rì etc.
* Glasgow expression for God