Cagaran Gaolach (Gaelic Lullaby) of a Lochaber Grandmother
from the transcriptions of the Gaelic Society of Glasgow
circa 1890

GAELIC

Cagaran, cagaran, cagaran gaolach,
Cagaran foghainteach, fear de mo dhaoine;
Goididh e gobhair dhomh, goididh e caoirich;
Goididh e capull is mart o na raointean.

Cagaran laghach thu, cagaran caomh thu,
Cagaran odhar, na cluinneam do chaoine;
Goididh e gobhair is goididh e caoirich,
Goididh e sithionn o fhireach an aonaibh.

Dean an cadalan, 's dùin do shùilean,
Dean an cadalan beag na mo sgùrdaich;
Rinn thu an cadalan, 's dhùin do shùilean,
Rinn thu an cadalan: slàn gu'n dùisg thu.

 ENGLISH

Hushaby, bairnie, my bonnie wee laddie,
When ye're a man ye shall follow your daddie,
Lift me a coo and a goat and a wether,
Bringing them hame to your minnie thegither.

Hush ye, my bairnie, my bonnie wee lammie,
Routh o' guid things ye shall bring tae yer mammie;
Hare frae the meadow and deer frae the mountain,
Grouse frae the muirlan' and trout frae the fountain.

Lullaby, lullaby, bonnie wee dearie,
Sleep!  come and close the e'en, heavy and weary;
Closed are the weary e'en, rest ye are takin' -
Soun' be yer sleepin', bricht be yer wakin'.

Editor's Note:  This lullaby was reportedly taken from a Lochaber grandmother, as she nursed/rocked her grandson on her lap.  The date related to this, circa 1890, is only a "best guess" as to when the field researchers from the Glasgow Gaelic Society took their notes - the lullaby is without a doubt much older than this.  The translation from the original, in Gaelic, was made by the Gaelic Society in the late 19th century.