Tiree Love Song

Tiree is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Alexander Sinclair who wrote the original Gaelic song in the late 19th century grew up on Tiree.

He-ree he-ro my bonnie wee girl
He-ree he-ro my fair one
Will you come away my love
To be my own my rare one?

Smiling the land! Smiling the sea!
Sweet is the scent of the heather
Would we were yonder, just you and me
The two of us together!

All the day long, out on the peat
Then by the shore in the gloaming
Stepping it lightly with dancing feet
And we together roaming

Laughter o’ love! Singing galore!
Tripping it lightsome and airy:
Could we be asking of life for more
My own, my darling Mary?

English lyrics above were written by Hugh S. Roberton in 1950. All rights reserved.

The original 19th c. Gaelic lyrics by Alexander Sinclair:
Am falbh thu leam a rìbhinn òg
No’n téid thu leam thar saile
Gum faic thu ann gach nì gu d’ mhiann
‘S an eilean shiar a dh’fhàg mi.

Ged nach faic thu coill’ no fiadh
Tha gèadh is eala bhàn ann
Cait’ bheil sealladh a chuain shiar
Nuair bhios na liadhan traighte.

Chì thu uiseag agus smeòrach
Lon dubh agus luachran
Seillean ruadh le mhil ‘s a ghàradh
‘S blàrag air gach buallan.

Chì thu sgairbh ‘tigh’nn ort o’n chuan;
Tha lachaidh ruadh a’ snamh ann;
Muran gorm a’ fàs m’ a bhruaich
Gach ceum mu ‘n cuairt d’ a’ thraighean

Cha ‘n fhaic thu nathair ann air grunnd
Ach luibhean ‘s cùbhraidh faileadh
A’ cinntinn ann bho linn gu linn
‘S an tìr ‘s an d’fhuair mi m’ àrach