Lyrics Julie Fowlis - Ged A Sheol Mi Air M' Aineol

Ged a sheòl mi air m' aineol
Cha laigh smalan air mi' inntinn
Ged a sheòl mi air m' aineol

'S ann à Boston a sheòl sinn
Dol air bhoidse chun na h-Ìnnsinn

Rinn sinn còrdadh ri captain
Air a' bhàrc a bha rìomhach

Trì latha roimh na Nollaig
Thàinig oirnn an droch shìde

Shèid i cruaidh oirnn le frasan
'S clachan mheallain a bha millteach

Cha robh ròpa 's cha robh òirleach
Nuair a reoth ann nach robh trì ann

Chaill sinn craiceann ar làmhan
Bha ar gàirdeanan sgìth dheth

Cha còignear nan seasamh
'S bha seachdnar nan sìneadh

Trì latha is trì oidhche
'S mi ri chuibhle ri droch shìde

Nuair a labhair an captain
"Illean tapaidh na dìobraibh

Nuair a ruigeas sibh cala
Bidh ur drama dhuibh cinnteach

Tha lionn-diubh aig mo mhàthair
Is dùil aic' nach till mi

English Translation:
Chorus (after each verse):

Although I sailed to foreign countries
Sadness did not linger in my mind
Although I sailed to foreign countries

We sailed from Boston
On a voyage to the Indies

We came to an agreement with a skipper
Of a handsome ship

Three days before Christmas
Bad weather descended upon us

The wind blew strongly with rain
And stinging hailstones

When the inch-thick ropes froze
They became three inches in girth

We lost the skin of our hands
And our arms were tired of the struggle

Five of the crewmembers were standing
And seven were prone

I spent three days and three nights
At the wheel during the storm

That is when the skipper said
"Do not yield, stout-hearted lads

When you reach port
"Your dram will be certain"

My mother is dejected
Because she does not expect me to return