An t-Aparan Goirid 's an t-Aparan Ùr: Òran do Sheasaidh Bhaile Raghnaill
Julie Fowlis Lyrics


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An t-aparan goirid 's an t-aparan ùr,
An t-aparan goirid nach ruig ach a' ghlùin,
'S nuair bha mi òg 's mi furast' rim lùb',
'S e dh'fhàg mi fo leòn ach an t-aparan ùr.

Bha cliù ort, a Sheasaidh, 's tu 'n ainnir bha suairc,
A chumadh rid ghealladh 's a leanadh rid luaidh;
'S ann unnad bha 'n spiorad, 's tu 'chinneadh nam buadh
Nach gabhadh an giorag 's nach tilleadh ron chuan.

'S ann ort a bha biùthas san dùthaich a bh' ann:
Cha ghabhadh tu Cooper, cha b' bhuidh' leat a chainnt;
'S ann bha thu nad bhiùtaidh, 's tu 'm flùr gun mheang,
'S nam faighinn mo dhùrachd, bhiodh diùc leat air làimh.

'S nuair fhuair an Eliza Miss Jessie air bòrd,
'S ann oirre bha 'n sgoinn 's iad a' hoidhsteadh nan seòl;
Bha muir air gach taobh dhith a' sgaoileadh mu bòrd
'S bha h‑aigne cho aotrom ri faoileag air lòn.

Bha seorsa duine aca mach air a' watch
A' geàrd a' bhaile 's na thigeadh mun cuairt,
Ach cheangaileadh a chasan 's a làmhan gu cruaidh,
'S mun tàinig a' mhadainn, chaidh a ragadh le fuachd.

Dh'fhàg thu do mhàthair is d' athair fo leòn
Nach d' rinn iad dhut banais le aighear 's le ceòl,
Ach tillidh tu fhathast do dh'Uibhist an eòrn',
'S bidh siùcar an glainne 's todaidh ga òl!

The Short Apron and the New Apron:
Song for Jessie of Balranald
The short apron and the new apron;
the short apron which only reaches the knee
When I was young and easily led
the new apron was the cause of my hurt.

You were famous, Jessie, as a polite young woman
who would keep your word and be faithful to your beloved.
How spirited you were, a descendant of the truly virtuous clan,
which knew not fear and for whom the sea held no dread.

You became famous in the area.
You wouldn't entertain Cooper; you cared not for his conversation.
What a beauty you were, a flower without blemish,
and had I my wish, a duke would have you by the hand.

When Miss Jessie boarded the Eliza,
there was a flurry of activity as the sails were hoisted.
The sea was parting for her bow
and her spirit was as light-hearted as a seagull.

They had a kind of man on watch,
guarding the village and all who approached.
But his feet and hands were tightly bound and,
by morning, he had stiffened with the cold.

You left your mother and father depressed
because they were unable to provide for you a wedding with music and merry-making.




But you'll return some time to Uist of the barley
and there will be sugar in glasses for drinking toddies!

Overall Meaning

The song "An t-Aparan Goirid 's an t-Aparan Ùr: Òran do Sheasaidh Bhaile Raghnaill" by Julie Fowlis is a song that tells a story about Jessie, a woman from Balranald, and her experiences with love and fame. The song describes two types of aprons, the short apron, and the new apron. Jessie is described as a well-known and faithful woman who was descended from a virtuous family that knew no fear on the sea. She did not care for the conversation of Cooper and was a beautiful flower without blemish. The song also talks about Jessie's travels on the ship Eliza, where she was cheerful and carefree like a seagull.


The song also tells of a man who guarded the village and all who approached with tightly bound feet and hands that had stiffened from the cold by morning. Jessie's parents were unable to provide for her a wedding with music and merry-making, causing them to be depressed. However, Jessie will return to Uist of the barley, and there will be sugar in glasses for drinking toddies. The song shows the traditional oral storytelling method of passing down stories and how music was used to convey messages and emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

An t-aparan goirid 's an t-aparan ùr,
The Short Apron and the New Apron:


An t-aparan goirid nach ruig ach a' ghlùin,
The short apron which only reaches the knee


'S nuair bha mi òg 's mi furast' rim lùb',
When I was young and easily led


'S e dh'fhàg mi fo leòn ach an t-aparan ùr.
the new apron was the cause of my hurt.


Bha cliù ort, a Sheasaidh, 's tu 'n ainnir bha suairc,
You were famous, Jessie, as a polite young woman


A chumadh rid ghealladh 's a leanadh rid luaidh;
who would keep your word and be faithful to your beloved.


'S ann unnad bha 'n spiorad, 's tu 'chinneadh nam buadh
How spirited you were, a descendant of the truly virtuous clan,


Nach gabhadh an giorag 's nach tilleadh ron chuan.
which knew not fear and for whom the sea held no dread.


'S ann ort a bha biùthas san dùthaich a bh' ann:
You became famous in the area.


Cha ghabhadh tu Cooper, cha b' bhuidh' leat a chainnt;
You wouldn't entertain Cooper; you cared not for his conversation.


'S ann bha thu nad bhiùtaidh, 's tu 'm flùr gun mheang,
What a beauty you were, a flower without blemish,


'S nam faighinn mo dhùrachd, bhiodh diùc leat air làimh.
and had I my wish, a duke would have you by the hand.


'S nuair fhuair an Eliza Miss Jessie air bòrd,
When Miss Jessie boarded the Eliza,


'S ann oirre bha 'n sgoinn 's iad a' hoidhsteadh nan seòl;
there was a flurry of activity as the sails were hoisted.


Bha muir air gach taobh dhith a' sgaoileadh mu bòrd
The sea was parting for her bow


S bha h‑aigne cho aotrom ri faoileag air lòn.
and her spirit was as light-hearted as a seagull.


Bha seorsa duine aca mach air a' watch
They had a kind of man on watch,


A' geàrd a' bhaile 's na thigeadh mun cuairt,
guarding the village and all who approached.


Ach cheangaileadh a chasan 's a làmhan gu cruaidh,
But his feet and hands were tightly bound and,


S mun tàinig a' mhadainn, chaidh a ragadh le fuachd.
by morning, he had stiffened with the cold.


Dh'fhàg thu do mhàthair is d' athair fo leòn
You left your mother and father depressed


Nach d' rinn iad dhut banais le aighear 's le ceòl,
because they were unable to provide for you a wedding with music and merry-making.


Ach tillidh tu fhathast do dh'Uibhist an eòrn',
But you'll return some time to Uist of the barley


S bidh siùcar an glainne 's todaidh ga òl!
and there will be sugar in glasses for drinking toddies!




Contributed by Alyssa F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@bishno6229

An t-aparan goirid ’s an t-aparan ùr, An t-aparan goirid nach ruig ach a’ ghlùin, ’S nuair bha mi òg ’s mi furast’ rim lùb’, ’S e dh’fhàg mi fo leòn ach an t-aparan ùr.(sèist)

Bha cliù ort, a Sheasaidh, ’s tu ’n ainnir bha suairc, A chumadh rid ghealladh ’s a leanadh rid luaidh; ’S ann unnad bha ’n spiorad, ’s tu ’chinneadh nam buadh Nach gabhadh an giorag ’s nach tilleadh ron chuan.

S ann ort a bha biùthas san dùthaich a bh’ ann: Cha ghabhadh tu Cooper, cha b’ bhuidh’ leat a chainnt; ’S ann bha thu nad bhiùtaidh, ’s tu ’m flùr gun mheang, ’S nam faighinn mo dhùrachd, bhiodh diùc leat air làimh.

S nuair fhuair an Eliza Miss Jessie air bòrd, ’S ann oirre bha ’n sgoinn ’s iad a’ hoidhsteadh nan seòl; Bha muir air gach taobh dhith a’ sgaoileadh mu bòrd ’S bha h‑aigne cho aotrom ri faoileag air lòn.

Bha seorsa duine aca mach air a’ watch A’ geàrd a’ bhaile ’s na thigeadh mun cuairt, Ach cheangaileadh a chasan ’s a làmhan gu cruaidh, ’S mun tàinig a’ mhadainn, chaidh a ragadh le fuachd.

Dh’fhàg thu do mhàthair is d’ athair fo leòn Nach d’ rinn iad dhut banais le aighear ’s le ceòl, Ach tillidh tu fhathast do dh’Uibhist an eòrn’, ’S bidh siùcar an glainne ’s todaidh ga òl!

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The short apron and the new apron;
the short apron which only reaches the knee
When I was young and easily led
the new apron was the cause of my hurt.

You were famous, Jessie, as a polite young woman who would keep your word and be faithful to your beloved. How spirited you were, a descendant of the truly virtuous clan, which knew not fear and for whom the sea held no dread.(chorus)

You became famous in the area. You wouldn’t entertain Cooper; you cared not for his conversation. What a beauty you were, a flower without blemish, and had I my wish, a duke would have you by the hand.

When Miss Jessie boarded the Eliza, there was a flurry of activity as the sails were hoisted. The sea was parting for her bow and her spirit was as light-hearted as a seagull.

They had a kind of man on watch, guarding the village and all who approached. But his feet and hands were tightly bound and, by morning, he had stiffened with the cold.

You left your mother and father depressed because they were unable to provide for you a wedding with music and merry-making. But you’ll return some time to Uist of the barley and there will be sugar in glasses for drinking toddies!



All comments from YouTube:

@alfonsogonzalezaguilera6098

I love her music and her beautiful way to sing greetings from Chile

@bigstar66

This is the greatest song about an apron ever written

@ronaldnisbet5005

Bless 🙏 😢❤

@richardburkholder220

That voice. Smitten.

@lottiantongiulio

Splendida

@cheekytikie7135

Beautiful again, don't understand why no one has commented on this one yet.

@mikem9001

Especially because there is such a racy (and true) story behind it!

@bigstar66

@@mikem9001 what's the story?

@ronaldnisbet5005

I wil be with you one day yong lady don't know where our how but we will meet that I promise you 💖

@ronaldnisbet5005

Angel say no more seriously 😢

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