Julie Fowlis (born 20 June 1978 on North Uist, Outer Hebrides) is a Scottis… Read Full Bio ↴Julie Fowlis (born 20 June 1978 on North Uist, Outer Hebrides) is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic. Fowlis won the Horizon award at the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, won Folk Singer of The Year at the 2008 awards, and was nominated for the Folk Singer of the Year award at the 2007 awards.

British broadcaster Mark Radcliffe hailed her voice and songs as “enchanting, beguiling and as fascinating as songs by Kate Bush and Björk” and KT Tunstall described her voice as "formidable and amazingly rhythmic". She was the BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2008 and has gathered a small army of fans around the world including an impressive list of celebrities including the aforementioned Mark Radcliffe, KT Tunstall plus Ricky Gervais and Phil Selway from Radiohead. In 2007 she was invited to appear on "Later...with Jools Holland" and was a special guest on the critically acclaimed "Transatlantic Sessions" series and has entertained millions of radio listeners around the world with her engaging live sessions and live performances.

She is somewhat of an enigma as she sings in a language only understood by around 60,000 people - which accounts for only approximately 1% of the population of Scotland. She sings in Scottish Gaelic and spends her time touring around the world bringing ancient songs from the Hebridean Islands to new audiences. She is an accomplished musician as well - playing Highland bagpipes, smallpipes, whistles, oboe & cor anglais and three waltzes on the one row melodeon.

She has broadcasting experience, including present two flagship music programmes on BBC Scotland - the traditional music programme "Travelling Folk" and the world music show "Global Gathering". A one hour documentary on her and her musical travels, entitled "Bliadhna Julie/Julie's Year" was broadcast by the BBC in 2007. She was publicly voted Gaelic Singer of the Year 2007 at the Scots Trad Music Awards and her album "cuilidh", produced with husband Eamon Doorley, was voted "Album of the Year" at the same awards. She has a clutch of other awards, including BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award 2006 for Best Emerging Artist (the first ever Gaelic Artist to be nominated for such an award) and was also voted Gaelic Singer of the Year 2005 at the Scots Trad Music Awards. She remains the only singer to have won this prestigious award twice.

Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr
Julie Fowlis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr
′S tu fhèin a choisinn an cliù
Nuair a thàinig dùth le thrùp
Bho as air dhùthaich MhicLeòid

Thàinig tu led bhàirdse cruinn
Ghabh thu timcheall air Port Rìgh
Thogadh d' shaighdearan cìs

Fhad ′s a mhaireadh strì nan dòrn

Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr
'S tu fhèin a choisinn an cliù
Nuair a thàinig dùth le thrùp
Bho as air dhùthaich MhicLeòid

Is thàinig tu led bhàirds' mun cuairt
Ghabh thu timcheall ′Chinn a Tuath
Dh′innis thu dhaibh gun gheilt gun ghruaim
Gur e 'n cuan a bha fo sròin

Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr
′S tu fhèin a choisinn an cliù
Nuair a thàinig dùth le thrùp
Bho as air dhùthaich MhicLeòid

Is ùr a' chraobh on d′ rinn thu fàs
Na bha fon talamh dhith 's gu h-àrd
Gun mhosgan am bun no ′m bàrr
Ach an giuthas àlainn òg

Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr
'S tu fhèin a choisinn an cliù
Nuair a thàinig dùth le thrùp
Bho as air dhùthaich MhicLeòid

Is Dòmhnallaich sibh taobh air thaobh
Làmh dhearg as suaicheantas dhuibh
Long is bradan 's leòmhann, craobh
Gidheadh an is fraoch glas òg

Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr
′S tu fhèin a choisinn an cliù
Nuair a thàinig dùth le thrùp
Bho as air dhùthaich MhicLeòid

Da da da da, da da da da da-ha da, da da da da

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Julie Fowlis's song "Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr" celebrate and honor the arrival of a new Bailey (a shepherd) who has gained fame and recognition. The song describes the journey of the Bailey from the land of MacLeod and the impact they had on the communities they visited.

In the first verse, it is mentioned that the Bailey came from a distant land and gained fame upon their arrival. They were able to captivate the attention and admiration of the people, who recognized their skills and abilities.

The second verse talks about the travels of the Bailey around Portree, the main village on the Isle of Skye. The Bailey's soldiers collected taxes while they were engaged in battles and conflicts. This suggests that the Bailey was a respected and authoritative figure who had influence and power in the community.

The third verse describes the Bailey's journey around the northern parts of Scotland. They visited surrounding areas, describing the encounter with bards who were told stories about the sea beneath their noses, indicating the beauty and vastness of the landscapes they had witnessed.

In the final verse, it is highlighted that the Bailey's arrival brought forth new growth and vitality, symbolized by the growth of a young, beautiful tree. The song also mentions the MacDonalds, a well-known Scottish clan, and their association with traditional symbols like the ship, the salmon, the lion, and the heather.

Overall, "Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr" is a song that celebrates the arrival of a respected and influential figure and acknowledges their achievements and impact on the communities they encounter.

Line by Line Meaning

Mo bheannachd dhan bhàillidh ùr
My blessing to the new founder

′S tu fhèin a choisinn an cliù
You yourself gained the fame

Nuair a thàinig dùth le thrùp
When a people came with strength

Bho as air dhùthaich MhicLeòid
From the land of MacLeod

Thàinig tu led bhàirdse cruinn
You came with a mighty host

Ghabh thu timcheall air Port Rìgh
You traveled around Portree

Thogadh d' shaighdearan cìs
Your soldiers would levy taxes

Fhad ′s a mhaireadh strì nan dòrn
While the battle of fists lasted

Is ùr a' chraobh on d′ rinn thu fàs
And new is the tree from which you grew

Na bha fon talamh dhith 's gu h-àrd
Unlike the one that was hidden beneath the ground

Gun mhosgan am bun no ′m bàrr
Without a bough at the bottom or the top