An Eala Bhàn The White Swan 1st July 2016

An Eala Bhàn ("The White Swan")
Sad I consider my condition
With my heart engaged with sorrow
From the very time that I left
The high bens of the mist
The little glens of dalliance
Of the lochs, the bays and the forelands
And the white swan dwelling there
Whom I daily pursue.
O Maggie, don't be sad
Love, if I should die -
Who among men
Endures eternally?
We are all only on a journey
Like flowers in the deserted cattle fold
That the year's wind and rain will bring down
And that the sun cannot raise.
All the ground around me
Is like hail in the heavens;
With the shells exploding -
I am blinded by smoke:
My ears are deafened
By the roar of the cannon;
But despite the savagery of the moment
My thoughts are on the girl called MacLeod.
Crouched in the trenches
My mind is fixed on you, love;
In sleep I dream of you
I am not fated to survive;
My spirit is filled
With a surfeit of longing
And my hair once so auburn
Is now almost white.
But if it should happen
That I am killed in France
And laid in the grave
As thousands are already,
My blessings go with the maiden,
So noble and fair.
May her every day be free of care,
And her life a source of pride.
Goodnight to you, love
In your warm, sweet-smelling bed;
May you have peaceful sleep and afterwards
May you waken healthy and in good spirits.
I am here in the cold trench
With the clamour of death in my ears
With no hope of returning victorious-
The ocean is too wide to swim.

[@peterkeating4230]

I was fortunate to be there with my brother. This was one of the highlights of the day for me. The song touched me deeply as my grandmother was a Gaidhlig speaker from Stornoway who met my grandfather when he was wounded at the Somme and sent to Scotland to recuperate. I listen to it often

[@SubZeroCommander]

The monument is dedicated to scottish WWI losses ? I admire Mrs.Fowlis aswell, but I still gotta learn a lot about my ancestry!

[@HIBERNIAN04]

I was fortunate to be present that day 1st July 2016. Julie is amazing.

[@daryllawrick976]

Yes there are many Gaelic singers but there is something about Julie’s voice. Just simply something...

[@dannny_macdee1015]

Aye, to be sure! My wishes are but for the same for her as the soldier's for the girl Macleod!

[@thomasmcmanus3560]

What an honour that must have been, to sing at such a memorial

[@McConnachy]

Julie is a national treasure of Scotland. So many communities were destroyed due to the huge loss of life from WW1. What was it for? I cannot think of a reason that these young men of all nations died without having the joy of life and children. This song is for the young men of Scotland, Ireland, Germany, England, Wales, France, Austria, Serbia, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Belgium and everywhere else

[@nadinespier1]

Wow! Angelic.

[@Dactyrouxy]

J'étais présent .. j'ai écouté et j'ai pleuré.

[@danalder1161]

Merci Stéphane, je suis d'accord c'était très émouvant

[@sqkaczmarek]

Julie's voice carries you to a place that defines serene and calm. Peace to you all.

[@boyardfrederique7720]

j'y étais, magnifique !

[@BlackBacon44]

Proud to say "I was there." Now a great fan of this remarkable performer.

[@georgeASD]

lm a great fan of julie since some time, l envy you, her voice has something that melts your heart, and this song, her voice and the context of that song got me in tears the first time l heard it. Any way, greetings from Mexico mate.

[@BigEuan1]

fantastic......never again Alba.....

[@chiaraeddechiara845]

❤

[@salebo55]

Hi, Most sorry to see that a lot of people have forgotten the lessons of History! At that time French and Colony soldiers, UK and Commonwealth soldiers and other Allies, were side by side. And yes against the Germans with whom we live in Peace now! And very important superb rendition from Judy Fowlis! I don´t understand gaelic but it´s wonderful. I' m French but "Vive la Canadienne "

[@ailsamacgillivray6623]

I'm extremely proud to say that I fluently speak gaelic and English even though I am 11years old. This song means a lot to me and i can play it on piano and chanter

[@Kobzar3374]

@@ailsamacgillivray6623 Good for you!

[@mikem9001]

"And yes against the Germans with whom we live in Peace now!" Yes, and the lesson is that it is only because of the sacrifice of many lives like this one that we are now able to live in peace with each other. Peace is dearly bought - don't despise the past sacrifices that lead to it.

[@JohnSmith-ro6vw]

This makes me cry.

[@ABrouse]

An Eala Bhàn Gur muladach a tha mi 's mo chrìdhe 'n sàs aig bròn, bhon an uair a dh'fhàg mi beanntan àrd a' cheò: gleanntaichean a' mhànrain - nan loch, nam bàgh 's nan sròm, 's an eala bhàn tha tàmh ann gach là air a bheil mi 'n tòir. A Mhagaidh, na bi tùrsach, A rùin, ged gheibhinn bàs. Cò am fear am measg an t-sluaigh A mhaireas buan gu bràth? Chan eil sinn uileadh ach air chuairt, Mar dhìthein buail' a' fàs, Bheir siantanan na bliadhna sìos, 's nach tog a' ghrian an àird. Air m'uilinn anns na truinnseachan Bha m'inntinn ort, a ghràidh; Nam chadal bidh mi bruadar ort - Cha dualach dhomh bhith slàn: Tha m'aigne air a lìonadh Le cianalas cho làn, 's a ghruag a dh'fhàs cho ruadh orm a-nis air thuar bhith bàn. Oidhche mhath leat fhèin, a rùin, Nad leabaidh chùbhraidh bhlàth, Cadal sàmhach air a chùl 's do dhùsgadh sunndach, slàn; tha mise 'n-seo san truinnsidh fhuair 's nam chluasan fuaim a' bhàis, gun dùil ri faighinn às le buaidh - tha 'n cuan cho buan ri shnàmh. Paroliers : Donald Macdonald / Traditional ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... An Eala Bhàn ("The White Swan") Sad I consider my condition With my heart engaged with sorrow From the very time that I left The high bens of the mist The little glens of dalliance Of the lochs, the bays and the forelands And the white swan dwelling there Whom I daily pursue. O Maggie, don't be sad Love, if I should die - Who among men Endures eternally? We are all only on a journey Like flowers in the deserted cattle fold That the year's wind and rain will bring down And that the sun cannot raise. Crouched in the trenches My mind is fixed on you, love; In sleep I dream of you I am not fated to survive; My spirit is filled With a surfeit of longing And my hair once so auburn Is now almost white. But if it should happen That I am killed in France And laid in the grave As thousands are already, My blessings go with the maiden, So noble and fair. May her every day be free of care, And her life a source of pride. Goodnight to you, love In your warm, sweet-smelling bed; May you have peaceful sleep and afterwards May you waken healthy and in good spirits. I am here in the cold trench With the clamour of death in my ears With no hope of returning victorious- The ocean is too wide to swim.

[@roisinniloirgneain815]

Mòràn taing. 🙏

[@kovacpetr]

Does anyone know who wrote the beautiful music to this remarkable poem?

[@angkolartek1970]

An Eala Bhàn ("The White Swan") is a Scottish Gaelic love song composed by Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna during the Battle of the Somme. It is addressed to Magaidh NicLeòid (Maggie MacLeod), his sweetheart at the time of World War I.