Thogail Nam Bo Theid sinn
The Following are the lyrics for the MacFarlane Gathering tune, as printed in 'The History of the Clan MacFarlane' by James MacFarlane, published in 1922 by David Clark ltd., Glasgow. Phonetic transcription and translation by my good friend Kent MacFarlane of Vancouver, B.C. in 1995.
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Thogail nam bo, dhiomain(*) nam bo, thogail nam bo theid sinn;
hokel nam bo: yi:men.................. nam bo: hokel nam bo: heid'shin
To lift the cows.... to lift..............the cows ....to lift the cows we shall go:
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Thogail nam bo ri uisge 's ri ceo, ri monadh Ghlinn Cro theid sinn.
hokel nam bo: ri ooshke sri k'o:, ri mona .........lin kro ............eid'shin.
To lift the cows into the rain and into the mist up the moor of Glenn Cro we shall go.
(Repeat the first two lines)
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Thogail nan creach, bhualadh nan speach, thogail nan creach theid sinn;
hokel nan krex vooala na spex....................hokel nan krex heid'shin
To lift the spoil, (like the) sting of a wasp, to lift the spoil we shall go;
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Thogail nan creach, dhiomain nan creach, thogail nan creach theid sinn;
hokel nan krex yi:men nan krex .............hokel nan krex.............. heid'shin
To lift the spoil, to lift the spoil, to lift the spoil we shall go;
...
Thogail nan creach, bhualadh nan speach, thogail nan creach theid sinn;
hokel nan krex vooala na spex....................hokel nan krex heid'shin
To lift the spoil, (like the) sting of a wasp, to lift the spoil we shall go;
..
Thogail nam bo ri uisge 's ri ceo, ri monadh Ghlinn Cro theid sinn.
hokel nam bo: ri ooshke sri k'o:, ri mona .........lin kro ............eid'shin.
To lift the cows into the rain and into the mist up the moor of Glenn Cro we shall go.
..
* dhiomain is an adjective being used as a verb. Strictly, it means "fleeting", "transitory".
To fully appreciate this song it must be heard....if i had the room i would have it on my page, i have only heard it sung once, but it is truly uplifting and exciting...even though it is a song basically about "theft".
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