Scotland The Real - Cànan Nan Gàidheal

Lyrics :	English Translation :

Cha b'e sneachda 's an reòthadh bho thuath	It was not the snow and the frost from the north
Cha b'e 'n crannadh geur fuar bho 'n ear	It was not the sharp, cold blasts from the east
Cha b'e 'n t-uisge 's a'ghaillionn bho 'n iar	It was not the rain and the storms from the west
Ach an galair a bhlian bho 'n deas	But the disease from the south that has starved
Blàth, duilleach, stoc, agus freumh	The bloom, foliage, stalk and root
Cànan mo threubh 's mo shluaidh	Of the language of my race and my people

Sèist :	Chorus (after each verse) :
Thig thugainn, thig cò'ruim gu siar	Come with us, come with me to the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nam Féinn	Until we hear the language of the Feín
Thig thugainn, thig cò'ruim gu siar	Come with us, come with me to the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal	Until we hear the language of the Gael

Nuair chithear fear-fèilidh'sa ghleann	When a kilted man was seen in the glen
Bu chinnteach gur Gàidhlig a' chainnt	It was certain that Gaelic was his language
Nuair a spion iad a threumh as an fhonn	But they have torn his roots from the ground
'N àite Gàidhlig tha cànan a ghoill	In place of Gaelic is the Lowlander's language
'S a Ghaidhealtachd creadhal-nan-sonn	And the Highlands, cradle of heroes
'S tìr "Mhajors" is "Cholonels" 'n diugh innt'	Today is the land of majors and colonels

"Thoir a nuas dhuinn na coinnleirean òr	"Bring us down the golden candlesticks
'S annt caraibh na coinnlean geal cèir	And place in them candles of white wax
Lasaibh suas iad an seòmair a'bhròin	Light them in the chamber of sorrow
Tìgh-aire seann chànan a' Ghàidheil"	The wake-house of the Gael's old language"
'Se siud o chionn fhad' thuirt an nàmh	That's what the enemy has long been saying
Ach fhathast tha beò cànan a' Gàidheal	But the language of the Gael still lives

Ged theich i le beath' às na glinn	Although she escaped with her life from the glens
Ged na cluinnear a-nis muigh i's an Dùn	Although she's not heard in the castle
O Dhùthaich MhicAoidh, fada tuath	From Mackay's county in the far north
Gu an ruig thu Druim-Uachdar nam bò	As far as Drumochter of the cattle
Gidheadh, anns na n-Eileanan Siar	Nevertheless in the Western Isles
'Si fhathast ann ciad chàinnt an t'sloigh	She is still the mother tongue of the people


	Cànan Nan Gàidheal

Credits :	Murdo MacFarlane; arranged by Billy Jackson

Appears On :	Scotland The Real (compilation)

Language :	Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic)

Other Versions :	" Canan Nan Gaidheal " by Gaelic Women on the Ar Cànan 'S Ar Ceòl compilation " Canan Nan Gaidheal " on Ishbel MacAskill's album Essentially Ishbel " Cànan Nan Gaidheal " on Tannas' album Oighreachd