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Description
Another collab between myself and Rebsie continuing our quest to make 21st century folk music.
We take turns to grab the song for our homepages. Rebsie won the toss last time (or so she says - how do you see a coin on iChat?) so this is mine.
Rebsie writes: "Buain A'Choirce (Reaping Oats) is a Scottish Gaelic song which
probably originated as a women's work song. In the days before luxury
combine-harvesters with CD players, fields of oats were harvested by
women who formed a long line and worked across the field with their
scythes in unison. They sang songs like this to keep the momentum
going and to relieve the boredom.
"A'Choirce is a typical song of
its kind: the chorus is made up of vocables (nonsense syllables) which
enabled everyone to sing along, and the rhythm would make anyone want
to go out and swing a scythe."
In the spirit of cultural miscegenation, the jig at the end is a well-known Irish tune called Morrison's Jig.
Words and music: Traditional, arranged by William and Rebsie
Mixed by Rebsie
We take turns to grab the song for our homepages. Rebsie won the toss last time (or so she says - how do you see a coin on iChat?) so this is mine.
Rebsie writes: "Buain A'Choirce (Reaping Oats) is a Scottish Gaelic song which
probably originated as a women's work song. In the days before luxury
combine-harvesters with CD players, fields of oats were harvested by
women who formed a long line and worked across the field with their
scythes in unison. They sang songs like this to keep the momentum
going and to relieve the boredom.
"A'Choirce is a typical song of
its kind: the chorus is made up of vocables (nonsense syllables) which
enabled everyone to sing along, and the rhythm would make anyone want
to go out and swing a scythe."
In the spirit of cultural miscegenation, the jig at the end is a well-known Irish tune called Morrison's Jig.
Words and music: Traditional, arranged by William and Rebsie
Mixed by Rebsie
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Lyrics
Latha dhomh 's mi buain a'choirce
Gheàrr mi beum 's cha robh e socair
Chorus (after each couplet):
Horo sna hoir ri ri o
Hi ri ri ri horo eile
Horo sna hoir ri ri o
Gheàrr mi beum 's cha robh e socair
Ghèarr mi mo ghlùn is leig mi osna
Ghèarr mi mo ghlùn is leig mi osna
Shuidh mi air uachdair a'ghoirtein
Shuidh mi air uachdair a'ghoirtein
Dh'fheuch am faicinn fear do choltais
Dh'fheuch am faicinn fear do choltais
Fear 'chùil duinn 's nan gruaidhean dosrach
Fhaoilinn bhig a shnamhas an caolas
Beir mo shoraidh bhuam gu'm leannain
Translation:
One day as I was reaping oats
I made a cut that wasn't easy
I cut my knee and gave a moan
I sat at the top of the field
In the hope of seeing a man like you
A brown-haired man with a fair face
Little seagull who swims the straights
Bear my greeting to my sweetheart
Gheàrr mi beum 's cha robh e socair
Chorus (after each couplet):
Horo sna hoir ri ri o
Hi ri ri ri horo eile
Horo sna hoir ri ri o
Gheàrr mi beum 's cha robh e socair
Ghèarr mi mo ghlùn is leig mi osna
Ghèarr mi mo ghlùn is leig mi osna
Shuidh mi air uachdair a'ghoirtein
Shuidh mi air uachdair a'ghoirtein
Dh'fheuch am faicinn fear do choltais
Dh'fheuch am faicinn fear do choltais
Fear 'chùil duinn 's nan gruaidhean dosrach
Fhaoilinn bhig a shnamhas an caolas
Beir mo shoraidh bhuam gu'm leannain
Translation:
One day as I was reaping oats
I made a cut that wasn't easy
I cut my knee and gave a moan
I sat at the top of the field
In the hope of seeing a man like you
A brown-haired man with a fair face
Little seagull who swims the straights
Bear my greeting to my sweetheart
cjhoose
I am in Heaven, guys. *sings along*