Sleepy Maggie
Ashley MacIsaac Lyrics


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__ ruidhle bhoidheach __ a bonny reel
Ruidhle bhoidheach, dannsa direach A bonny reel, a tidy dance
__ ruidhle bhoidheach __ a bonny reel
Ruidhle bhoidheach, dannsa direach A bonny reel, a tidy dance

Ciamar a ni mi dannsa direach How can I make a tidy dance
Ciamar a ni mi ruidhle bhoidheach How can I dance a bonny reel
Ciamar a ni mi dannsa direach How can I make a tidy dance
Dh'fhalbh am prionn as bonn mo chota The pin went from the hem of my coat

__ ruidhle bhoidheach __ a bonny reel
Ruidhle bhoidheach, dannsa direach A bonny reel, a tidy dance
__ ruidhle bhoidheach __ a bonny reel
Ruidhle bhoidheach, dannsa direach A bonny reel, a tidy dance

Ciamar a ni mi dannsa direach How can I make a tidy dance
Ciamar a ni mi ruidhle bhoidheach How can I dance a bonny reel
Dh'fhalbh am prionn as bonn mo chota The pin went from the hem of my coat
__ __
Thig am fidhleir, am fidhleir an nochd The fiddler, the fiddler will come tonight

Tha nid na circe-fraoiche The nest of the grouse
'S a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh In the black mill, in the black mill
Tha nid na circe-fraoiche The nest of the grouse
'S a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhraidh Is in the black mill since the summer time
Tha nid na circe-fraoiche The nest of the grouse
'S a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh In the black mill, in the black mill
Tha nid na circe-fraoiche The nest of the grouse
'S a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhraidh Is in the black mill since the summer time

Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
'S e togairt dol a dhannsa And we expect to go dancing
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
'S e togairt dol a dhannsa And we expect to go dancing

Tha an crodh a' breith nan laogh __
Anns a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh In the black mill, in the black mill
Tha an crodh a' breith nan laogh __
Anns a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhradh In the black mill since the summer time
Tha an crodh a' breith nan laogh __
Anns a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh In the black mill, in the black mill
Tha an crodh a' breith nan laogh __
Anns a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhradh In the black mill since the summer time

Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
'S e togairt dol a dhannsa And we expect to go dancing
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
'S e togairt dol a dhannsa And we expect to go dancing

__ ruidhle bhoidheach __ a bonny reel
Ruidhle bhoidheach, dannsa direach A bonny reel, a tidy dance
__ ruidhle bhoidheach __ a bonny reel
Ruidhle bhoidheach, dannsa direach A bonny reel, a tidy dance

Ciamar a ni mi dannsa direach How can I make a tidy dance
Ciamar a ni mi ruidhle bhoidheach How can I dance a bonny reel
Dh'fhalbh am prionn as bonn mo chota The pin went from the hem of my coat




__ __
Thig am fidhleir, am fidhleir an nochd

Overall Meaning

The song begins by describing a "ruidhle bhoidheach," which translates to a "bonny reel." The singer questions how they can make a "dannsa direach," or "tidy dance." They lament the loss of a pin from the hem of their coat. The final lines of this verse imply that a fiddler will come to play music for dancing.


The chorus repeats the description of the "ruidhle bhoidheach" and "dannsa direach" while asking how to make them. The second half of the chorus again mentions the missing pin, and the imminent arrival of the fiddler.


The second verse offers more imagery surrounding the missing pin. The "nest of the grouse" is said to be in the "black mill" since summertime. Cows are also described as "breith nan laogh," or "giving birth to calves." The notion of the fiddler coming to play music for dancing is repeated.


The chorus repeats again, this time with the line "Thig am fidhleir, am fidhleir an nochd" which means "The fiddler, the fiddler will come tonight," before asking the same questions as before and mentioning the missing pin.


The song is an upbeat instrumental tune which heavily features the fiddle, as well as guitar and percussion.


The lyrics of the song are sung in Scottish Gaelic, a language traditionally spoken in Scotland and part of Ireland.


Ashley MacIsaac is a Canadian musician of Scottish and Irish descent, and this song is heavily influenced by his cultural heritage.


MacIsaac has said that the song was inspired by traditional Scottish reels, but he added his own flair to it by incorporating rock and techno elements.


The song was released on MacIsaac's 1995 album Hi, How Are You Today?


Sleepy Maggie is a popular tune in Canadian and Scottish folk music circles.


MacIsaac performed Sleepy Maggie with Mary Jane Lamond at the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.


The song was featured on the soundtrack to the 1998 film The Mighty.


Sleepy Maggie has been covered by several other artists, including Fiddlers' Bid, Natalie MacMaster, and The Chieftains.


The chords to the song are D, G, A, and B minor, according to some guitar tabs available online.


Line by Line Meaning

__ ruidhle bhoidheach __ a bonny reel
A beautiful tune, a delightful dance


Ruidhle bhoidheach, dannsa direach A bonny reel, a tidy dance
A beautiful tune for a neat, tidy dance


Ciamar a ni mi dannsa direach How can I make a tidy dance
How can I dance in an orderly fashion?


Ciamar a ni mi ruidhle bhoidheach How can I dance a bonny reel
How can I dance to this beautiful tune?


Dh'fhalbh am prionn as bonn mo chota The pin went from the hem of my coat
I lost the pin from the hem of my coat


__ __
Instrumental (no lyrics)


Thig am fidhleir, am fidhleir an nochd The fiddler, the fiddler will come tonight
The fiddler is coming tonight


Tha nid na circe-fraoiche The nest of the grouse
The grouse nest is nearby


'S a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh In the black mill, in the black mill
In the dark mill


'S a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhraidh Is in the black mill since the summer time
It's been in the dark mill since the summer


Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman The black mill is moving around
The dark mill is spinning


'S e togairt dol a dhannsa And we expect to go dancing
We're ready to dance


Tha an crodh a' breith nan laogh __ The cattle are calving
The cows are giving birth to calves (end of line unclear)


Anns a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh In the black mill, in the black mill
In the dark mill


Anns a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhradh In the black mill since the summer time
In the dark mill since the summer


Thig am fidhleir, am fidhleir an nochd The fiddler, the fiddler will come tonight
The fiddler is coming tonight




Contributed by Tristan T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@petercaulfield5065

In case they're needed:

Ciamar a ni mi dannsa direach
Ciamar a ni mi ruidhle bhoidheach
Ciamar a ni mi dannsa direach
Dh'Fhalbh am prionn aig bonn mo chota
Tha nid na circe-fraoiche
(The nest of the grouse)
'S a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh
(In the black mill, in the black mill)
Tha nid na circe-fraoiche
(The nest of the grouse)
'S a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhraidh
(Is in the black mill since the summer time)
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman
(The black mill is moving around)
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman
(The black mill is moving around)
Tha 'm muilinn dubh air thuraman
(The black mill is moving around)
'S e togairt dol a dhannsa
(And we expect to go dancing)
'S iomadh rud saoil sibh
(There are many things you wouldn't expect)
'S a' mhuilinn dubh, 's a' mhuilinn dubh
(In the black mill, in the black mill)
'S iomadh rud saoil sibh
(There are many things you wouldn't expect)
'S a' mhuilinn dubh o shamhraidh
(Is in the black mill since the summer time)



@zigsinclair

@@mamataroy4 How shall I do a straight dance?
How shall I do a bonny reel?
How shall I do a straight dance?
The pin1 at the bottom of my coat has gone away.

The moor-hen's nest is
in the black mill. in the black mill.
The moor-hen's nest is
in the black mill since the summer.

The black mill has wobbled
The black mill has wobbled
The black mill has wobbled
It wants to go dancing.

It was many a thing we thought of
in the black mill, the black mill
it was many a thing we imagined
in the black mill since summer,
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/sleepy-maggie-sleepy-maggie.html



@jacobhortonmusic

Bounce a cheetah eat a frog X2

Eat a frog and bounce a cheetah

Kill em and eat em bounce a cheetah

Killem and eatem eat a frog

Killem and eatem bounce a cheetah

Killem and eatem wear my coat a

Boys in the foil and Some boys in the foil and some

Boys in the foil and some boys that do karate

Who da man dat pooted man uh who da man dat pooted man

A who da man dat pooted man That talked and soiled down man ..



All comments from YouTube:

@amandakaye

My Papa was a fiddler and he was a fan of Ashley Macisaac. I LOVED this song. The fiddle riffs and the Gaelic had my imagination soaring. Brings back great 90’s muchmusic memories.

@mpaulm

This has 90’s Much Music written all over it.👌

@sharonballantyne1735

AND??? Your point is?🙃🙃🙃

@matthill5214

I miss 90's Much Music

@MedalionDS9

@@sharonballantyne1735 I don't think they were saying as an insult.

@abbypitts3857

Every feel like those of us that REMEMBER this song from the 90's are the last generation that was....sane?

@indigosungirl

Unfortunately a forgotten brilliance!! 💚💚💚💚💚

8 More Replies...

@bicylindrico

I have loved this song for so many years. What it must be like to create a song that has an emotional impact for so many.

@charlieross-BRM

Ashley MacIsaac was playing in a very small combination café and music stage place "in the middle of nowhere" west of Ottawa last summer. I was on a motorcycle tour having a coffee and saw the attached 80 seat theatre but I couldn't stay and I think it was sold out anyway. So good to know he's working and touring; too good a talent to let fade away.

@lesmercredis

I've always loved this song since I first heard it as a middle schooler in the mid-90s. I didn't care that I, a Toronto native of Asian descent, had no idea what the lyrics meant (or were, for that matter); I loved its rhythm, I loved the video, and goddamn it, I loved that fiddling.

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