To June

June is the beginning of summer here north. The light time of the year with long evenings, festivals and midsummer night. You asked me to take a song or a poem with me from the highlands of Scotland back home. I am fascinated by the poetic Gaelic language. The old irish language which later came to Scotland and used during the middle age and still represents a big part of the cultural heritage in Ireland and Scotland. The Scottish Gaelic is influenced by Norse and is perfect for light northern summer evenings.

Street singer outside The Victoria Market in Inverness

In a record shop at the Victoria Market in Inverness, I found music from Julie Fowlis and immediately fell for her clear and tender voice and music. On her debut album «Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe», which is translated into «As my heart is» I found the most beautiful songs and Fowlis's music is romantic and steeped in the tradition of her Western Isles home (North Uist). The song I chose is «Tha Mo Ghaol Air Àird A' Chain» (my love is on the high seas). Hope you enjoy this voice and music and since Gaelic is unknown to us, I bring a translation of the words below.



Tha Mo Ghaol Air Àird A' Chuain
(my love is on the high seas)

On a quiet evening at the beginning of May
When the bat was in the skies
I heard a tearful young maiden 
Singing beneath the shadow of the green branches
The sun was setting in the sea
And no stars yet graced the sky
When the young girl sang sorrowfully
"My love is on the high seas"  

The night's dew began to fall
Each bloom yielding softly to the droplets
The wind blew in a fragrant breeze
Bringing life and renewal to each field
The girl tunefully sang her song
Quiet and peaceful like the June dew '
And this chorus constantly repeated
"My love is on the high seas"    

Day darkened and the stars shone
Setting their course amongst the clouds
the maiden sat, burdened by her sadness
Her singing could not have been more soothing
I moved closer to the young woman
Singing of her love sailing on the sea
Oh sweet was her sad lament
"My love is on the high seas"  

The music enticed me
Nearer to the brown-haired maiden of the warm eyes
And she prayed to the King of Heaven
"Protect my love on the high seas"
Her heart was breaking with love
When I took her by the hand
"Wipe your eyes, your love is safe
I have returned to you from the high seas"