Nuair a sheasas mi 's an dorust Chì mi 'choille bhos mo chinn Sìnidh mo shùilean air sileadh Tha mo mhisneachd air a claoidh
Sèist: É ho rò 's 'na bheil air m'aire 'S mór an nochd a tha mi 'caoidh Ill ù ill ò gur mór mo luaidh ort Ged nach d'fhuair mi thu dhomh fhìn
'Sann agam fhìn a bha na bràithrean Bi mi 'ga àireamh a chaoidh 'S truagh nach robh mi aig a' charraig Nuair a dh'éibh iad soraidh leibh
Nuair a ràna' sinn 'n "Table" Mo chuideachd gu léir ann cruinn Mo phiuthar 's mo bhràthair-céile 'S gun stiall eudaich air an druim
Seiche na bà air a cairteadh 'S air a càradh air mo dhruim Mi air stàbhradh leis an acaras Col'as a' bhàis a' tighinn air m'aghaidh
Nam biodh agam cliabh 's corran Feamain iseal 's m'eathar fhìn Cha bhiodh mo chlann air a' bhrochan 'S an tìr mhosach 'gamo chlaoidh
English Translation:
When I stand in the doorway I see the forest above my head My eyes begin to weep My courage is overwhelmed
Chorus (after each verse): É ho rò the subject of my thoughts Great tonight is my mourning Ill ù ill ò I love you deeply Although I didn't win you for myself
I had three brothers Who I will forever recount It's a pity that I wasn't at the quay When they bid us farewell
When we arrived at the Table My entire family was there My sister and brother-in-law Without a strip of clothing on their backs
A scraped cow's hide Fixed on my back And I was starving with the hue Of death coming over my face
If I had a creel and a sickle The low seaweed and my own boat My children wouldn't be eating gruel And I wouldn't be oppressed by this miserable land