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Tha Mi Sgith​/​Mile Marbh' Aisg Air A'Ghaol​/​Cutting Bracken

from Branching Out by IONA

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Tha Mi Sgith(I am weary)/Mile Marbh' Aisg Air A'Ghaol(A thousand death shrouds upon love)/Cutting Bracken
trad/Scottish

Mile Marbh' Aisg Air A'Ghaol is puirt-a-beul (mouth music) originating in the Outer Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland: a waulking song, performed while fulling wool to make thickened tweed. Waulking was a social event for the women in the community, who would gather around a table and pound the woven fabric to break down the fibers as it was passed hand to hand. They would sing call and response songs to keep the rhythm and pass the time. We maintain that the subject of this song was a reflection on the sentiments of the women who were, no doubt, disenchanted by the preparation of the fabric. In order to weaken the fibers, it was soaked in a noxious solution of brine and urine, the latter oft provided by the men who obligingly recycled their whisky!

lyrics

Mile Marbh' Aisg Air A'Ghaol
(A thousand death shrouds upon love)

Mile marbh' aisg air a'ghaol
O hi ri ri hi ri iù
Asam fhin a thug e'n chlaoich
O hi iù o, ò hug ò
O hi iù o, ò hi iù hao ri iù o, ho hug ò
Sgaoilt e mo chridhe nam chom
Dh'fhuasgail e'm falt far mo chinn
Cha téid mi gu mac a'mhaoir
No idir go mac an t-saoir
Cha téid mise cha téid mi
Cha téid mi do ghin san tir
Gus an tig mi leannan fhin
Giomanach a'ghunna chaoil
Leagadh e'n eal'air a taobh
‘S earba bheag nan gearrchas caol.
© 2003 Barnaby Productions Inc.

credits

from Branching Out, released June 10, 2003
Bernard Argent (Irish flute, whistles, doumbek, vocals)
Chuck Lawhorn (Bass guitar)
Bob Mitchell (Highland great pipes)
Barbara Tresidder Ryan (Vocals, guitar, bodhrán)

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IONA Washington, D.C.

IONA has been taking its unique brand of traditional Celtic music to festivals, arts centers, schools & house concerts all over North America and Europe since 1986, blending music from the various Celtic traditions with stories and a little humor - Barbara Ryan (vocals, bouzouki, bodhran), Bernard Argent (flute, doumbek), Chuck Lawhorn (bass), Jim Queen (fiddle, banjo) & Kathleen Larrick (dance). ... more

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