Lyrics Kathleen MacInnes - Oran na Cloiche

A’ Chlach a bha mo sheanmhair
‘S mo sheanair oirre seanchas,
Air tilleadh mar a dh’fhalbh i
ghalghad a’ Chlach

‘S gur coma leam i ‘n Cearrara
An Calasraid no ‘n Calbhaigh
Cho fad’ ‘s a tha i ‘n Albainn
Nan garbhlaichean cas

Curfá:
‘S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha
Hilli um bo ruaig thu i hilli um bo ha
‘S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha

Ga cur an àite tearmainn
A chumas i gu falachaidh
‘S nach urrainn iad, nach dearg iad
Air sgealb dhith thoirt às
A’ Chlach a chaidh a dhìth oirnn
Air faighinn às an ìnean
‘S gu deimhinne, ma thill i
Tha ‘n nì sin gu math

Mionnan air fear deàrnaidh
Gach màthair is mac
Nach leig sinn ann an gàbhadh
Am fear a thug à sàs i
‘S a mhiontraig air a teàrnadh
À àite gum tlachd
Ma chuireas iad an làmh air
Chan fhuilear dhuinn bhith làidir
Is buill’ thoirt air a thàillibh
Le stàilinn amach

Bha ‘m Ministear cho tùrsach
Sa mhadainn nuair a dhùisg e
‘S praban air a shùilean
A’ tionndadh amach
E coiseachd feadh an ùrlair
Ag ochanaich ‘s ag ùrnaigh
‘S a’ coimhead air a’ chùil
Anns an d’ ionndrainn e Chlach

Sin far robh an stàireachd
‘S an ruith air feadh an làir ann
Gun smid aige ri ràidhtinn
Ach “Càit ‘n deach a’ Chlach?
‘S a Mhoire, Mhoire, Mhàthair
Gu dè nì mise màireach
Tha fios a’m gum bi bhànrainn
A’ fàgail a beachd”

Gun tuirt e ‘s dath a’ bhàis air
“Cha chreidinn-sa gu bràth e
Gu togadh fear bho làr i
Nach b’ àirde na speech
Tha rudeigin an dàn dhomh
‘S gun cuidicheadh an tÀgh mi
Bha’ n duine thug à sàs i
Cho làidir ri each

The Stone that my grandmother
And grandfather used to talk about
Has returned as it left
My brave Stone

And I don't care whether it's in Kerrera
Callendar or Calvay
As long as it's in
Steep, rugged Scotland

Chorus:
'S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha
Hilli um bo ruaig thu i hilli um bo ha
'S i u ro bha ho ro hilli um bo ha

To be put in a place of refuge
Which will conceal it safely
So that they can't, they won't manage to
Remove a single fragment of it
The Stone that was lost to us
Prised from their grasp
And certainly, if it has returned
That's a very good thing

Let us swear by our hand
Each and every one of us
That we will allow nothing to endanger
The man who unloosed it
And dared to rescue it
From an unpleasant place
If they lay hands on him
We'll need to be strong
And strike a blow for him
Using steel

The Minister was so sorrowful
When he woke that morning
His eyes bleary
As he turned out
Walking the floor
Sighing and praying
And looking at the nook
Where he'd found the Stone missing

There was much pacing
And running 'round the floor
And all he could say was
"Where did the Stone go?"
And, "By the Holy Mother
What will I do tomorrow
I know the Queen
Will be beside herself"

Said he, looking deathly pale
"I'd never have believed
It could have been raised from the floor
By someone no bigger than a wasp
Something is to happen to me
And Heaven help me
The man who unloosed it
Must be as strong as a horse"