Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda
Capercaillie Lyrics
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Cholla ghasda oho
As do laimh-s' gun o ho
Earbainn tapaidh trom eile
Chall eile bho chall a ho ro
Chall eile bho chall a ho ro
Chall eile huraibh i chall a ho ro
As do laimh-s' gun o ho
Earbainn tapaidh o ho
Mharbhadh Tighearna o ho
Ach-nam-Breac leat trom eile
'S ged 's beag mi fhein o ho
Bhuail mi ploc air o ho
Chuala mi'n de o ho
Sgeul nach b'ait leam trom eile
Chuala mi'n de o ho
Sgeul nach b'ait leam o ho
Glaschu a bhith o ho
Dol 'na lasair trom eile
Glaschu a bhith o ho
Dol 'na lasair o ho
'S Obair-Dheathain o ho
'N deidh a chreachadh trom eile
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Alexander son, o ho
Of exile Cholla, o ho
Into your hand, o ho
I would entrust deeds, trom eile
Chorus (after each verse):
Chall eile bho chall a ho ro
Chall eile bho chall a ho ro
Chall eile huraibh i chall a ho ro
'S haoi o ho trom eile
Into your hand, o ho
I would entrust deeds, o ho
The Lord of Ach-nam-breac, o ho
Would be killed by you, trom eile
And although I, o ho
Would get a blow, o ho
I heard yesterday, o ho
A sad story, trom eile
I heard yesterday, o ho
A sad story, o ho
That Glasgow, o ho
Was going down, trom eile
The song Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda by Capercaillie is a traditional Scottish folk song that tells the story of Alasdair Mhic Cholla Ghasda, an exile, and his son Alexander. The chorus "chall eile bho chall a ho ro" indicates that there is a challenge or call to action. Throughout the song, the singer is urging Alexander to take action and fulfill his destiny, which is to kill the Lord of Ach-nam-breac, a task that the singer believes he is capable of because of his courageous and skilled father.
The first verse starts by addressing Alexander, calling him by his full name, and identifying him as the son of an exile named Cholla. The singer then expresses his trust in Alexander and urges him to take on important tasks. In contrast, the second verse mentions a blow that the singer would receive, but he encourages Alexander by sharing a story about Glasgow going down. Overall, the song is an example of the Scottish storytelling tradition that celebrates heroes and their deeds.
Line by Line Meaning
Alexander son, o ho
Referring to a person named Alexander, of the exiled Cholla clan, o ho
Of exile Cholla, o ho
Alexander is a member of the exiled Cholla clan, o ho
Into your hand, o ho
The singer would entrust deeds into Alexander's hand, o ho
I would entrust deeds, trom eile
The artist wants Alexander to take on a task or responsibility, trom eile
Chorus (after each verse)
Repetition of the following lines after each verse
Chall eile bho chall a ho ro
Chall eile is repeated, o ho
Chall eile huraibh i chall a ho ro
Another refrain of Chall eile, o ho
'S haoi o ho trom eile
An exclamation that the preceding line was a sad or heavy one, trom eile
Into your hand, o ho
The artist repeats his statement about trusting deeds to Alexander, o ho
The Lord of Ach-nam-breac, o ho
Ach-nam-breac is a title, likely of a person, o ho
Would be killed by you, trom eile
The singer believes that Alexander could kill the Lord of Ach-nam-breac, trom eile
And although I, o ho
Despite the fact that I, o ho
Would get a blow, o ho
The singer might experience negative consequences, o ho
I heard yesterday, o ho
The singer learned a piece of information previously, o ho
A sad story, trom eile
The information the singer learned was a sad or difficult story, trom eile
That Glasgow, o ho
A reference to the city, Glasgow, o ho
Was going down, trom eile
The sad story was likely about Glasgow's decline, trom eile
Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@IndieB3
Lyrics: English Translation:
Alasdair Mhic o ho Alexander son, o ho
Cholla Ghasda o ho Of gallant Cholla, o ho
As do laimh-s' gun o ho Into your hand, o ho
Earbainn tapaidh trom eile I would entrust heroic deeds, trom eile
Chorus (after each verse):
Chall eile bho chall a ho ro
Chall eile bho chall a ho ro
Chall eile huraibh i chall a ho ro
'S haoi o ho trom eile
As do laimh-s' gun o ho Into your hand, o ho
Earbainn tapaidh o ho I would entrust heroic deeds, o ho
Mharbhadh Tighearna o ho The Lord of Ach-nam-breac, o ho
Ach-nam-Brac leat trom eile Would be killed by you, trom eile
'S ged 's beag mi fein o ho And although I myself was small, o ho
Bhuail mi ploc air o ho I threw a clot of earth on him, o ho
Chuala mi'n de o ho I heard yesterday, o ho
Sgeul nach b'ait leam trom eile A sad story, trom eile
Chuala mi'n de o ho I heard yesterday, o ho
Sgeul nach b'ait leam o ho A sad story, o ho
Glaschu a bhith o ho That Glasgow, o ho
Dol 'na lasair trom eile Was going down, trom eile
Glaschu a bhith o ho That Glasgow, o ho
Dol 'na lasair o ho Was going down, o ho
'S Obair-Dheathain o ho And Aberdeen, o ho
'N deidh a chreachadh trom eile Is being pillaged, trom eile
@tireoghanoniall425
ferguspuskas don't forget his display name is Gall-Oglaigh (galloglass in English) .
Gall - Foreign (geographically).
Oglaigh - (Youth / Army)
GallOglaigh were west highland heavy infantry kept by Irish nobility and paid in either cattle or land. and many irish descend from them.
they were essential in keeping the Normans out of ulster and Shane O'Neill used clans MacKay (MhicAiodh), McLeod (MhicLeoid), MacLean (MhicGilleEthain) and sometimes the MacDonalds to try and stop the plantation of ulster.
your name Fergus is also gaelic...
@LordRimoah
This song has got some kind of a tribal groove... So powerful!
@MoonmothMedia
Thanks for uploading this - it has a wonderful rhythm and tune, makes you feel like getting up and doing something!
@ginnychudgar9088
LIke getting up and dancing!
@marekmarkowski437
even getting up, taking up some wool, sitting down together with family and waulking!
@nikger5627
Like organizing and taking your country back :D
@bunnyman09
The perfect combination - my favorite Capercaillie song plus gorgeous pictures of a country I love very much. Thanks for posting!
@TheMostar4444
Alasdair Mac Colla (c. 1610–1647) was a Scottish soldier. His full name in Scottish Gaelic was Alasdair Mac Colla Chiotaich Mac Domhnuill (English: Alasdair the son of Colla the Left-handed MacDonald). He is sometimes mistakenly referred to in English as "Collkitto",[1] a nickname that properly belongs to his father. He fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, most notably in Scotland, where he became a knight. He died at the Battle of Knocknanauss in 1647. Source Wikipedia cheers
@wearywanderer2722
It is said that after the Battle of Inverlochy he asked the captured Campbell commander if he wished to be longer or shorter ie hung or beheaded
@jamescarroll9022
This hero who died at the Battle of Knockanauss, which is near my ancestors lands along the river Blackwater, County Cork. The O'Callaghans fought with MacColla at the battle, and the hero is buried in Clonmeen, the ancestoeral burial ground of the O'Callaghans.
It is good to know that he lies there amongst many of my own ancestors
@fionnghallselma7193
Being the O'Cearbhaill or Callaghan? Carroll from Cork too; so if there's any relation to that clan fighting in Knockanauss I'd appreciate any info