Ar Cànan 'S Ar Ceòl - Canan Nan Gaidheal

Lyrics :	English Translation :

Cha b'e sneachda 's an reothadh ò thuath	It wasn't the snow of frost from the north
Cha b'e 'n crannadh geur fuar ò 'n ear	It wasn't the cold snap from the east
Cha b'e 'n t-uisge 's gaillionn ò 'n iar	It wasn't the rain or gale from the west
Ach an galar a bhlian ò 'n deas	But the disease which has blanched from the south
Blàth, duileach, stoc agus freumh	The blossom, foliage, stem and roots
Cànan mo threubh 's mo shluagh	Of the language of my race and people

Sèist :	Chorus (after each verse) :
Thig thugainn, thig cò' ruinn gu siar	Come along and join us in the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal	So that we will hear the language of the Gael
Thig thugainn, thig cò' ruinn gu siar	Come along and join us in the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal	So that we will hear the language of the Gael

Bheir anuas dhuinn na coinnleirean òr	Fetch down the golden chandeliers
'S ann annt càraibh na coinnlean geal cèir	And set the white wax candles in them
Lasaibh suas iad an seòmar a' bhròin	Light them up in the chamber of sorrow
Taigh aire seann chànan a' Ghàidheil	The wake house of the old Gaelic language
'Se siud ò chionn fhad' thuirt an nàmh	That's what the enemy said a long time ago
Ach fhathast tha beò Cànan nan Gàidheal	But the Gaelic language still lives

Ged theich i le beath' às na glinn	Although she has retreated from the glens
Ged 's gann an diugh chluinnear i nas mò	Though one hears her so seldom now
O Dhùthaich Mhic Aoidh fada tuath	From the Mackay far in the north
Gu ruig thu Druim Uachdar nam bò	Down to Drumochter of the cattle
Gidheadh, dhith na h-Eileanan Siar	But even so, we need to have the sword and shield
Biodh claidheamh is sgiath ud 'n ur dòrn	In our fists in the Western Isles

Ged nach cluinnear anis i 'san dùn	Although it is no longer heard in the castle
No 'n talla nan cliar is nan corn	Nor in the hall of bards and drinking cups
Ged tha meòir Chloinn 'ic Criomain gun lùths	Though the fingers of the MacCrimmons lie without strength
O 'n tric fheasgar ciùin dhòirteadh ceòl	Which once played such splendid music of an evening
Gidheadh, anns ha h-Eileanan Siar	She's even under threat in the Isles
'S i fhathast ann, ciad chàinnt an t-slòigh	Though it's still the first language of the people


	Canan Nan Gaidheal

Credits :	M. MacFarlane

Appears On :	Ar Cànan 'S Ar Ceòl (compilation)

Language :	Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic)

Other Versions :	" Canan Nan Gaidheal " on Ishbel MacAskill's album Essentially Ishbel " Cànan Nan Gàidheal " by Catherine-Ann MacPhee on the Scotland The Real compilation " Cànan Nan Gaidheal " on Tannas' album Oighreachd