Coisich a Ruin
Capercaillie Lyrics


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Coisich, a ruin, hu il oro,
cum do ghealladh rium, o hi ibh o;
beir soraidh bhuam, hu il oro,
dha n Hearadh, boch oraino o
Beir soraidh bhuam
dha na Hearadh-
gu Seon Caimbeul
donn mo leannan-
gu Seon Caimbeul
donn mo leannan-
sealgair geoidh,
roin is eala;
Sealgair geoidh,
roin is eala,
bhric a ni leum
'n fheidh ri langan.
'S filuch an oidhche
nochd 's gur fuar I,
ma thug Clann Nill
druim a' chuain orr';
Ma thug Clann Nill
druim a' chuainn orr'-
luchd nan seol ad
's nan long luatha;
Luchd nan seol ad
's nan long luath,
's nam brataicheann
gorm is uaine;
"s nam brataicheann
gorm is uaine-
cha be 'fhear cearraig
bheireadh bhuat I.
(Translation) Come On, My Love
Come on, my love, hu il oro
keep your promise to me, o hi ibh o;
take greeting from me, hu il oro
over to Harris, boch orainn o.
Take greetings from me
Over to Harris-
To John Campbell
my brown-haired sweetheart
To John Campbell
my brown-haired sweetheart-
hunter of goose
seal and swan
Hunter of goose
seal and swan-
of leaping trout
of bellowing deer
Wet is the night
tonight, and cold,
If the MacNeills
have put to sea
If the MacNeills
have put to sea-
men of high sails
and swift ships;
Men of high sails
and swift ships;
and of banners
blue and green
And of banners
blue and green




no left-hander
could take her rudder from you.

Overall Meaning

The song "Coisich A' Ruin" by Capercaillie is a Scottish Gaelic love song about a woman pleading with her lover to keep his promise to her and take her greetings over to Harris Island. She refers to her sweetheart, John Campbell, and praises him as a skilled hunter of geese, seals, swans, trout, and deer. The song also mentions the MacNeills, a powerful clan known for their swift ships and banners of blue and green. The singer worries that if they have put to sea, the night will be lonely and wet.


The song's melody conveys a sense of longing and is accompanied by mournful strings and percussion. The lyrics capture the rugged beauty of the Scottish landscape and the deep emotional connections between people and their environment. The song's title translates to "Walk, My Love" in English, and it invites listeners to join the singer on a journey through the wilds of Scotland.


Line by Line Meaning

Coisich, a ruin, hu il oro,
Come on, my love, let's go on, hu il oro


cum do ghealladh rium, o hi ibh o;
keep your promise to me, o hi ibh o


beir soraidh bhuam, hu il oro,
accept my greetings, hu il oro


dha n Hearadh, boch oraino o
to Harris, come quickly


Beir soraidh bhuam dha na Hearadh-
Accept my greetings to Harris-


gu Seon Caimbeul donn mo leannan-
to John Campbell, my brown-haired sweetheart-


sealgair geoidh, roin is eala;
Hunter of geese, seals and swans;


Sealgair geoidh, roin is eala,
Hunter of geese, seals and swans,


bhric a ni leum'n fheidh ri langan.
of leaping trout and roaring deer.


'S filuch an oidhche nochd 's gur fuar I,
Tonight is wet and cold,


ma thug Clann Nill druim a' chuain orr';
If the MacNeills have set sail;


Ma thug Clann Nill druim a' chuainn orr'-
If the MacNeills have set sail-


luchd nan seol ad 's nan long luatha;
Men of tall sails and swift ships;


Luchd nan seol ad 's nan long luath,
Men of tall sails and swift ships,


's nam brataicheann gorm is uaine-
And of blue and green banners-


cha be'fhear cearraig bheireadh bhuat I.
No right-handed man could take the rudder from you.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUFF, LUNNY, MATHESON, MCKERRON, SAICH, SHAW

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@lapislazuli455

English translation:

A hundred greetings from me

Come on, my love, hù il oro
Keep your promise to me, o hi ibh o
Take greetings from me, hù il oro
Over to Harris, boch orainn o
To John Campbell, hù il oro
My brown-haired sweetheart, boch orainn o
Hunter of goose, hù il oro
Seal and swan, boch orainn o
Of leaping trout, hù il oro
Of bellowing deer, boch orainn o

Wet is the night, hù il oro
Tonight and cold, o hi ibh o
If the MacNeills, hù il oro
Have to put to sea, boch orainn o
Men of high sails, hù il oro
And swift of ships, boch orainn o
And of banners, hù il oro
Blue and green, boch orainn o
No left-hander, hù il oro
Could take her rudder from you, boch orainn o



@JMRBAQ

Coisich, a rùin, hù il oro     
Cum do ghealdadh rium, o hi ibh o     
Beir soraidh bhuam, hù il oro     
Dha na Hearadh, boch orainn o     
      
Beir soraidh bhuam, hù il oro     
Dha na Hearadh, o hi ibh o     
Gu Seon Caimbeul, hù il oro     
Donn mo leannan, boch orainn o     
      
Gu Seon Caimbeul, hù il oro     
Donn mo leannan, o hi ibh o     
Sealgair geòidh, hù il oro     
Ròin is eala, boch orainn o     
      
Sealgair geòidh, hù il oro     
Ròin is eala, o hi ibh o     
Bhric a ní leum, hù il oro     
'N fhèidh ri langan, boch orainn o     
      
'S fliuch an oidhche, hù il oro     
Nochd's gur fuar i, o hi ibh o     
Ma thug Clann Nìll, hù il oro     
Druim a' chuain orr', boch orainn o     
      
Ma thug Clann Nìll, hù il oro     
Druim a' chuain orr', o hi ibh o     
Luchd nan seòl àrd, hù il oro     
'S nan long luatha, boch orainn o     
      
Luchd nan seòl àrd, hù il oro     
'S nan long luatha, o hi ibh o     
'S nam brataichean, hù il oro     
Gorm is uaine, boch orainn o     
      
'S nam brataichean, hù il oro     
Gorm is uaine, o hi ibh o     
Cha b'fhear cearraig, hù il oro     
Bheireadh bhuat i, boch orainn o



All comments from YouTube:

@paulgiles4718

Way back (can't remember when) on the Isle of Mull the band were due to perform in a village hall but arrived late. Van broke down. We all headed for the village pub. An hour later returned to the hall to be told that a sound check was still on. The masses went back to the pub. The concert started late and they gave us the full programme. This song came on around 1am. Rocked the hall and was brilliant. A night never to be forgotten

@ardrossband

Had the pleasure of roadying for them during the Get Out tour. Karen has an angels voice. Worked with her hubby Donald Shaw(keyboards) at the Feis in Gairloch. Top man.

@lindzdm

When I was wee I used to ask my dad to rewind the CASSETTE over and over again-loved this-brings back soooo many memories!!! :) xLx

@rogerscott9332

Can't understand a word of it, but could listen to it all day long.

@NovariannaParadiso

Exactly

@tinadonaldson3267

Roger Scott it's amazing isn't it! 😍

@GM-jt3sh

This features on their album Delirium...fantastic.

@edda-snaedis680

OMG I was obsessed with this song when I was a child. My parents used to put it while driving.
Cheers from Spain.

@heidimckenzie3123

There’s a man named Charlie in the band and he actually taught my class the tin whistle he is actually great at playing instruments

@caram6061

2023 still a tune we r still listening to them in Edinburgh

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