Fear a Bhata
Niamh Parsons Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Theid mé suas ar an croc is airde
Feach a bhfeic mé an fear a bháta
An dtig tú anocht nó an dtig tú amarach
No Muna dtig tú idir is trua atá mé

A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
Ceád mile failte gach ait a te tú

Tá mo chroíse briste bruité
Is tric na deoir a'ruith o mo shuíle
An dtig tú inniú nó am bidh me suil leat?
No an druid mé an doras le osna tuirseach?

A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
Ceád mile failte gach ait a te tú

Gheall mo leanann domh gúna den tsioda
Gheall é sin, agus breacan riabhach
Fainne óir anns an bhfeicfinn íomha
Ach is eagal liom go ndearn sé dearmad

A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
Ceád mile failte gach ait a te tú

Tá mo croíse ag dul in airde
Chan don fidleir, chan don clairsoir
Ach do Stuirithoir an bhata
Is muna dtig tú abhaile is trua atá mé

A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
A fhir a bháta is na horó eile




A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
Ceád mile failte gach ait a te tú

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from the traditional Irish song 'Fear a Bhata' as performed by the talented Niamh Parsons. The song speaks of a woman who is waiting on the shore for her love, who is out at sea on his boat. She asks if he will return tonight, or tomorrow, or if he will not return at all. She notes that her heart is broken, and often tears fall from her eyes as she waits for him. She wonders if he will come back today, or if she should close the door and sigh with fatigue. She promises her lover that if he does return, she will dress in silk and wear a colorful plaid pattern called a 'breacan riabhach'. But despite this promise, she is still afraid that he may forget about her.


The chorus is sung in repetition throughout the song and speaks of the welcome that awaits the man if he returns, no matter where he goes. The final verse expresses the woman's fears that her heart may break completely if he does not come back soon, and that even the music of fiddlers and harpists cannot keep her from worrying while her love is away. The song is a heartfelt expression of the love, longing, and fears that come with loving someone who works at sea.


Line by Line Meaning

Theid mé suas ar an croc is airde
I climb up to the highest point


Feach a bhfeic mé an fear a bháta
Look and see the man in the boat


An dtig tú anocht nó an dtig tú amarach
Will you come tonight or will you come tomorrow


No Muna dtig tú idir is trua atá mé
And if you don't come, I'll be sorry


A fhir a bháta is na horó eile
Oh boatman and the other oarsmen


Ceád mile failte gach ait a te tú
A hundred thousand welcomes wherever you go


Tá mo chroíse briste bruité
My heart is broken and shattered


Is tric na deoir a'ruith o mo shuíle
Tears often flow from my eyes


An dtig tú inniú nó am bidh me suil leat?
Will you come today or will I hope for you?


No an druid mé an doras le osna tuirseach?
Or shall I close the door with a weary sigh?


Gheall mo leanann domh gúna den tsioda
My love promised me a silk gown


Gheall é sin, agus breacan riabhach
He promised me a plaid of speckled brown


Fainne óir anns an bhfeicfinn íomha
A golden ring that I would see


Ach is eagal liom go ndearn sé dearmad
But I fear that he has forgotten


Tá mo croíse ag dul in airde
My heart is soaring high


Chan don fidleir, chan don clairsoir
Not for the fiddler, not for the harpist


Ach do Stuirithoir an bhata
But for the helmsman of the boat


Is muna dtig tú abhaile is trua atá mé
And if you don't come home, I'll be sorry




Contributed by Jacob K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@lizgray5750

I'm Scottish - Niahm Parson could sing the phone book in any language and I'd probably listen. There is something about her voice. Grabs me every time.

@cooksmary

Gives this American goose bumps and tears in my eyes. I understand not one word, but I feel it.

@DPG214

Ruth Keggin, a fellow Manxie, is also in that category for me.

@michaelkavanagh5947

@cooksmary It's a Gaelic song sung in Gaelige. She's sad about her boatman not coming back. The languages are close enough it works. It makes no sense in English.

@cooksmary

@M K I have a lot of Scots ancestry and I guess it is in my blood. Thanks for the nice reply.

@birdsofbritain4033

@M K I find it very clear in english -

@rexmundi3108

My grandfather's favorite song, he sang it in Scots Gaelic and faster, probably to keep the pace milling (working woolen fabric). He died back in the 70s when I was 8, of a generation who spoke Gaelic as their first language. Their story is told in The Last stronghold by Margret Bennet.

@ginajackson4122

Only just discovered Niamh and what a great raw, natural voice she has. This is one of my favourite renditions of this wonderful tune. Fantastic backing singers/musicians too.Thanks so much for uploading. Will become one of my regular go to tunes.

@kevinbrady5029

Also, how does this have less than 500 likes? What she does with each word is the heart of artistry.

@beakhammer2638

Beautiful voice. Thanks. From Ireland.

More Comments

More Versions