Fionnghuala
The Chieftains Lyrics


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Thuirt an gobha fuirighidh mi
'S thuirt an gobha falbhaidh mi
'S thuirt an gobha leis an othail
A bh' air an dòrus an t-sàbhail
Gu rachadh e a shuirghe
Sèist: Chorus
'Si eilean nam bothan nam bothan
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan
Am bothan a bh' aig Fionnghuala
'Si eilean nam bothan nam bothan
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan
Am bothan a bh' aig Fionnghuala

Bheirinn fead air fulmairean
Bheirinn fead air falmairean
Liuthannan beaga na mara
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn

Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn

Bheirinn fead air fulmairean
Bheirinn fead air falmairean
Liuthannan beaga na mara
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn

Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn

Thuirt an gobha fuirighidh mi
'S thuirt an gobha falbhaidh mi
'S thuirt an gobha leis an othail




A bh' air an dòrus an t-sàbhail
Gu rachadh e a shuirghe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Fionnghuala" tell the story of a conversation between a blacksmith and a group of fishermen. The blacksmith asks the fishermen to stay for a while and tells them he will go to fetch some provisions from a storehouse belonging to a woman called Fionnghuala. The fishermen agree to wait and then launch into a lively chorus about Fionnghuala's bothan or hut.


The song is a traditional Irish folk song, and the lyrics are in Scottish Gaelic. The chorus of the song is very catchy, and the verses are full of vivid imagery, such as the "little sea creatures" that the fishermen will catch and the "tar sands" they will scrape. There is also a sense of community in the song, as the fishermen agree to wait and enjoy each other's company while the blacksmith fetches the provisions.


Line by Line Meaning

Thuirt an gobha fuirighidh mi
The blacksmith said wait on me


'S thuirt an gobha falbhaidh mi
The blacksmith said I must be gone


'S thuirt an gobha leis an othail
The blacksmith said to the doorkeeper


A bh' air an dòrus an t-sàbhail
Who was at the threshhold of the barn


Gu rachadh e a shuirghe
That he would visit her


Chorus
Chorus


'Si eilean nam bothan nam bothan
It is the island of the bothies


Eilean nam bothan nam bothan
The island of the bothies


Am bothan a bh' aig Fionnghuala
Where Fionnghuala was


'Si eilean nam bothan nam bothan
It is the island of the bothies


Eilean nam bothan nam bothan
The island of the bothies


Am bothan a bh' aig Fionnghuala
Where Fionnghuala was


Bheirinn fead air fulmairean
I would take a whistle to the seagulls


Bheirinn fead air falmairean
I would take a whistle to the seagulls


Liuthannan beaga na mara
The wee calf of the sea


Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
We would chase them on the shore


Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn
So that the dark waves won't keep us


Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
This tune did not say


Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
This tune did not say


Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
This tune did not say


Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
We would chase them on the shore


Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn
So that the dark waves won't keep us


Bheirinn fead air fulmairean
I would take a whistle to the seagulls


Bheirinn fead air falmairean
I would take a whistle to the seagulls


Liuthannan beaga na mara
The wee calf of the sea


Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
We would chase them on the shore


Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn
So that the dark waves won't keep us


Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
This tune did not say


Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
This tune did not say


Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo
This tune did not say


Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn
We would chase them on the shore


Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn
So that the dark waves won't keep us


Thuirt an gobha fuirighidh mi
The blacksmith said wait on me


'S thuirt an gobha falbhaidh mi
The blacksmith said I must be gone


'S thuirt an gobha leis an othail
The blacksmith said to the doorkeeper


A bh' air an dòrus an t-sàbhail
Who was at the threshhold of the barn


Gu rachadh e a shuirghe
That he would visit her




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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tom canterbury


on North Amerikay

the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist