An Dàn CD Lyrics

T7: Taigh an Uillt

Iain Crichton Smith: Mary Ann Kennedy

“Come, find shelter beneath Cruachan, find peace and kindness there,
Come, find shelter beneath Cruachan, come find the shelter of love.”

Glasgow-born and Lewis raised, Iain Crichton Smith was one of Gaelic’s 20th Century literary greats – and a fine and funny man to boot. Iain rounded off his teaching years in the Argyllshire port-town of Oban, before retiring to write full-time from his base in the neighbouring village of Taynuilt. The local Gaelic choir (led by Audrey Paterson, the lead singer of the local swing band - now there’s real class) had asked Iain to write a poem unashamedly in praise of the village, and asked me later to turn it into a song. With the blessing of Donalda, his wife, I played a little with the verse structures and created a chorus, to complete this miniature village national anthem.

Audrey MacLeod Paterson: Iain was so "chuffed" at the thought of his words being made into a song, something he never imagined would happen. In common with many ultra-gifted Highlanders and Islanders, he was unfailingly generous with his immense talent and when I asked him if he would consider writing some words for a song about Taynuilt, he came back to me with, not one, but two beautiful pieces of poetry which have since been set to music.

T7: Taigh an Uillt

 Iain Crichton Mac a’ Ghobhainn: Màiri Anna NicUalraig

“Thig fo sgàil a’ Chruachain, faigh ann fois is bàigh;
Thig fo sgàil a’ Chruachain, thig fo sgàil a’ ghràidh.”

Dh’innis Donalda (Dondie), bantrach Iain, mu dheidhinn fhèin a’ cluinntinn Audrey NicPheadrais a’ seinn an òrain arison a’ chiad turas: thuirt i gu robh Iain gu math toilichte san sgìre, agus bha e ’n dùil gun do lìbhrig i gu brèagha a smuaintean mu Chruachan agus Taigh an Uillt.

Audrey NicPheadrais: Chaidh an dà phìos bàrdachd – Gleann Èite agus Taigh an Uillt – a sgrìobhadh as t-samhradh sa bhliadhna 1998, beagan mhìosan a-mhàin mun do chaochail Iain. Chuir Màiri Anna ceòl àlainn ris na briathran eireachdail aig Iain ann an Taigh an Uillt, le co-sheirm còisir dha-rèir.

Taigh an Uillt, fo sgàil Beinn Cruachain:
’S tu mo dhachaigh, ’s tu mo ghràdh;
Far a bheil na daoine uasal,
Cridheil, suairce agus tlàth;
Far am faic thu air Beinn Cruachain
Fèidh a’ gluasad shuas gu h-àrd,
’S far am faigh thu iomadh fuaran
Gu do shàsachadh sa bhlàths.

Thig fo sgàil a’ Chruachain,
Faigh ann fois is bàigh;
 Thig fo sgàil a’ Chruachain,
Thig fo sgàil a’ ghràidh.

Ach an seo tha craobhan bòidheach,
Dearcagan air sliabh is clàr,
’S chi thu cnothan, chì thu ròsan,
Chi thu ealachan a’ snàmh;
B’ ann an seo a thàinig Deirdre
Gu Gleann Èite faisg air làimh,
Ged a thill i null a dh’Èirinn
Airson coinneachadh a’ bhàis.

Gheibh thu sàmhchair agus sìth ann,
Chi thu frìthean, chi thu tràigh;
Bith thu nas beartaiche na rìgh ann,
Neo an spìocaire le chàrn;
Àite òirdhearc, àite ròs-dhearg,
Far an cluinn thu calman tràth,
’S far am faod thu a bhith pòsda
Ri do chòirichean gu bràth.

Taynuilt, in the shadow of Ben Cruachan:
 You are my home, you are my love;
Where the folk are noble,
Cheerful, kindly and gentle;
Where you can see, on Ben Cruachan,
 Deer roaming up above,
And where you will find many springs
 To quench your thirst on a warm day.

Come find shelter beneath Cruachan,
Find peace and kindness there,
Come find shelter beneath Cruachan,
Come find the shelter of love.

But here there are beautiful trees,
Berries on hillside and slope,
You will nuts, you will see roses,
 You will see swans swimming
It was here that Deirdre came
To Glen Etive, nearby,
Although she returned to Ireland
To meet her death.

You will find peace and tranquillity,
You will see deer forests and shoreline;
 You will be richer than a king there,
 Or a miser with his hoard.
Glorious place, rose-red place,
Where you can hear the early dove,
And where you may be wedded
To your rightful place forever