+ Rocket to the Moon
Here hangs an open landscape
A wild and huge frontier
A harsh and a barren wasteland
Through the grave to the promised field

[And you made this Clan great
And you made this nation bloom
And you rose with your people to the new world
Like a rocket to the moon]

You came, you trapped, you charted
You built the railroads and the schemes
And you tamed this land by enterprise
And by the power of your dreams

[Refrain]

From the olden coasts of Ireland
And the Hebridean shores
With the forgotten chosen ones
Running from Europe in droves

[Refrain]

There's a town in Nova Scotia
They say the windows touch the sky
But across the brine the shipyards close
Cos' in this garden flowers die

And still the homelands divide us
Like your blood red brothers of the plains
But where they grieve a candle still burns
A prayer from a flicker to a flame

[Refrain]

+ Protect and Survive
The red hot sun burns up the hill
The winter's bride, the summer's king
I tramp these acres and I feel
Once upon a time
And then it seemed that everything
You saw and touched and felt was real
You turned the tap and you turned the wheel
Breathing free

[Once in a lifetime
You live and love
Once in a lifetime
You die
Once in a moment
The sun goes down
Protect and survive]

Now you search the open evening skies
Trace the memories in your eyes
The prophet's hard rain and the deluge lie in tears around your door
Once there were trees and livestock here
A mother's love, the warnings clear
But you chose to turn away from fear
Breathing free

[Refrain]

Protect and survive

Now there's a faceless cross on a distant hill
A wasted voice, a silent scream
Where the lovers love and the dreamers dream
You stand and dream alone
You took your sacrifice to the gods of war
Traded your children's lives for a mess of gold
And you beat your ploughshares into swords
Breathing free

[Refrain]

+ Big Sky
Diardaoin, an ceathramh latha dhan ‘Ghiblein. Deagh latha eile. Air mo chois trath. Leig mi fhèin is m'athair a-mach an crodh. Tha Alasdair a' treabhadh thall taobh an iar. Dh'fhalbh sinn sios a dh'Orasaigh, fodraigeadh nam beathaichean agus thàinig sinn air ais timcheall Cleit, a' cumail suil a-mach airson na h-uain. Tha e math a bhi beò, tha e math a bhi beò.

The light is on me
All time is here
I'm going down to Clachan
To stem the rush of years
Big sky above me
Powerlines overhead
I get lifted up enraptured
I keep falling at your feet
I'm looking over colourfields
Past the white sands and our human years
And it's all waiting here
Breaking the seed

[It's coming again
Gathering the wind
Returning to claim a harvest
I'm lifted where I stand
On the never-ending land
I'm coming to a sense of home]

Air an òidhche bha sluagh mòr a-staigh agus bha againn ri dhol suas gu taigh Neill airson tuilleadh sheidhrichean. Tha an teaghlach uile dhachaidh a -neisd. A' suidhe air an staidhre a' coimhead air an uinneag. A' gheallach, An Crogaire, Loch an Aonghais. Fhad's a bha Ruairidh Sheumais a' gabhail na leabhraichean. Tha gnothaichean caran mun aon rud.

Wind through the barley
Your early dream
A rising choir of birdsong
Your fields of summer green
It's all passing over
I've no complaints
We're just a row of unlit candles
Waiting at the gate of saints
I'm living on the borderline
Between the moment and the shining miles
The far stretching stones
All the lines of the sown

[Refrain]

The light of ancient shine
On your ordinary lives
We joyed went to the fires of harvest

So open up the land
Open up the sand
Returning again in Clachan

+ Siol Ghoraidh (The Geneology Of Goraidh)
Ochd deug seisreach
Air raontainn Aird a' Mhorain
Na fir a' treabhadh
An là a thainig na Sleithich

Dubh dath na fala
A dhoirt 'na tuil gu talamh
Saighead, claidheamh
Tro chairdeas corp an Udail

Siol Ghoraidh
Mac Ruairidh
Clann Raghnaill
Clann Dhòmhaill

Linn gu linn
Bho ainm gu ainm
Air an sgiath seo dh' Uibhist
'S mi beò an dràsd

Clann mo theaghlaich
Clann mo theaghlaich
Clann mo theaghlaich fhein

Dòmhnall Iain Aonghais ‘Ic Neill, Iain Dhòmhnall Iain, Seonnaidh Mòr A' Ghearraidh, Caillean A' Ghreusaiche, Tearlach Eòin Dhughaill, Calum Aonghais ‘Ic Neill, Calum Dhonnchaidh, Neill Alastair ‘Ic UIlleam, Ruairidh Iain Thàillear, Dughall ‘Illespidh Thormoid, Calum Ailig Mhor, Eirsidh Iain A' Duin, Dòmhnall ‘Ic Ille Mhuile, Ceit Phàdraig, Seonnaidh A' Chiobair, Aonghas Bochd.

traduction

Eighteen teams of horses
On the fields of Aird a' Mhorain
The young men poughing
On the day the Sleat people came

Black was the colour of the blood
That flowed like a flood to the soil
The arrow, the long sword
Through the generosity of the Udal people

Generation to generation
From one name to another
My time is now
To walk this corner of Uist

The geneology of Goraidh
The sons of Ruairi
The sons of Ranald
The children of Donald

The children of my family
The children of my own family

Donald, son of John, son of Angus, son of Neil. John, son of Donald John. Big John from the land between the hill pasture and the arable. Colin the shoemaker. Charles, son of Ewen, son of Dugald. Calum, son of Angus, son of Neil. Calum, son of Duncan. Neil, son of Alastair, son of William. Roderick, son of John, son of the tailor. Dugald, son of Gillesbuig, son of Norman. Calum, son of Big Alexander. Archibald, son of John of the Fortress. Donald, son of Samuel. John from Huna. Alastair, son of Donald, son of the boy from the mill. Catherine, daughter of Patrick. John, son of Roderick, son of John, son of Angus. The widow of John, son of the Shepherd. Poor Angus.

+ The Only Rose
Between the shifting shadows
In the no-man's zone
There's a bar at the end of the street
Some poor country music
One or two sixties songs
It's a place where the night owls sleep

Oh, loneliness
You're a hard earned crust
You're the night at the end of the day
'Cause you pay your dues
On the road you choose
With the price you have to pay

Down the neon aisles
And the twilight miles
Where the world takes comfort in shame
And all I can hear is a voice in my ear
And it's calling out your name

Still the silence glows
The four winds blow
And a dark moon rising above
To rest by your side
In the heat of the fire
In the sleep of the night of love

When darkness hangs
On the dirty city
Winter falls on a foreign town
And it's all I can do
To be with you
Tonight as the sun goes down
But I would cross the ocean wide
I'd walk the mighty foam
If I could lie in your arms tonight
You're the only rose I know

+ A Dh'Innse Na Firinn (To Tell You The Truth)
An cuala tu an naidheachd
A chuala mi an de
Tha an saoghal ga chraobh-sgaoileadh
Co shaoileadh a leithid!

A dh'innse na firinn
Cha creidinn sa na briathran

A dh'innse na firinn
Cha creidinn sa na briathran

A dh'innse na firinn
O, na briathran, hu bho ho o

traduction

Did you hear the news
That I heard yesterday
The whole world is broadcasting it
Who would have thought!

To tell you the truth
I could not believe the words

To tell you the truth
I could not believe the words

To tell you the truth
O, the words, hu bho ho o

+ Edge of the World
All the homes on the globe are like the television in your eyes
A cross guarding your heart the living years a sacrifice
A shiver at the door in the night, clouds cross a black moonlight
Rushing on down to the sound of a turning world
There's a south by sou'westerly force eight coming in strong
Across the continental shelf from the cold grey Malin beyond

The need to keep control
The need to stand alone at the edge of the world
At the edge of the world
At the edge of the world

The adrenalin infrastructure bringing on it's troubles some more
All the laws of the jungle stranded on your latest shore
But the waves hold the healer force
The years disappear like a ghost
Somewhere out of the sight of the night and the light of day
Now civilisation groans and the news reel cries
Like a drowning man his life in front of his eyes

Oh the need to keep control
The need to bare the soul at the edge of the world
At the edge of the world
At the edge of the world

And the man from St. Kilda went over the cliff on a winter's day

At the edge of the world
At the edge of the world

+ Hearts of Olden Glory
There's thunder clouds round the hometown bay
As I walk out in the rain
Through the sepia showers and the photoflood days

I caught a fleeting glimpse of life
Though the water's black as night
The colours of Scotland leave you young inside

[There must be a place
Under the sun
Where hearts of olden glory grow young]

There's a vision coming soon
Through the faith that cleans your wound
Hearts of olden glory will be renewed

Down the glens where the headlands stand
I feel a healing through this land
A cross for a people like wind through your hands

[Refrain]

+ Rubh Nan Cudaigean (Headland of the Cuddy Fish)/ the Middleton Mouse
Buain nam bàirnich, nam bàirnich, nam bàirnich
Buain nam bàirnich air creagan Rubh nan Cudaigean
Buain nam bàirnich, nam bàirnich, nam bàirnich
'S goilidh sinn na bàirnich, 'san taigh air Rubh nan Cudaigean

Goilidh sinn na bàirnich, na bàirnich, na bàirnich
Goilidh sinn na bàirnich 'san taigh air Rubha nan Cudaigean
Goilidh sinn na bàirnich, na bàirnich, na bàirnich
'S cagnaidh sinn na bàirnich, air cladach Rubha nan Cudaigean

Cagnaidh sinn na bàirnich, na bàirnich, na bàirnich
Cagnaidh sinn na bàirnich air cladach Rubha nan
Cudaigean Cagnaidh sinn na bàirnich, na bàirnich, na b àirnich
'S sgaoiligh sinn na bàirnich, air muir Rubha nan Cudaigean

Sgaoiligh sinn na bàirnich, na bàirnich, na bàirnich
Sgaoiligh sinn na bàirnich air muir Rubha nan Cudaigean
Sgaoiligh sinn na bàirnich, na bàirnich, na bàirnich
'S suidhidh sinn le tàbh ann, air creagan Rubha nan Cudaigean

Be hileam bo horam bo, eirich is ithibh ith
Be hileam bo horam bo, feitheamh air na cudaigean
Be hileam bo horam bo, eirich is ithibh ith
Nach ith sibh na bàirnich is ithidh mi na cudaigean

traduction

Gathering the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
Gathering the limpets on the rocks at Cuddy Point
Gathering the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
And then we will boil the limpets in the house at Cuddy Point

We will boil the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
We will boil the limpets in the house at Cuddy Point
We will boil the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
And then we will chew the limpets on the shore at Cuddy Point

We will chew the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
We will chew the limpets on the shore at Cuddy Point
We will chew the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
Then we will scatter the limpets on the seas at Cuddy point

We will scatter the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
We will scatter the limpets on the seas at Cuddy Point
We will scatter the limpets, the limpets, the limpets
Then we will sit down with the 'tabh' on the rocks at Cuddy Point

Be hileam bo horam bo, rise up and take the bait
Be hileam bo horam bo, waiting for the cuddies
Be hileam bo horam bo, rise up and take the bait
Won't you eat the limpets, and we will eat the cuddies

+ Maymorning
I'm alive again on a Maymorning
Go to wipe the slate clean follow my dreams
All the yearning buds are here again
With the promise of a new life to come
Spring is here again

The sun is melting over the hills
All our roads are waiting to be revealed
For this day in history has brought us to here
Now it's all there for the taking
The day is what you see

The light's returning, the work is in hand
All the cynics have vanished from where we stand
All the chances wasted are drawing me near
And all around there's new life rising
From the winter fields

I'm alive again, I'm alive again
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive again x2
I'm alive again

+ The Message
I'm gonna dance you round the floor
Gonna drink you under the tables
Gonna take that last flight home
To Balivanich in the month of June
Go racing up the south ford
Turning midnight in the cars
Waiting up late with the Greenock girls
And singing every song that made us

[You take your message to the waters
And you watch the ripples flow
Now somewhere out on that ocean
It says Mary please don't go]

We're gonna lie down on the grass
Your lipstick in the clover
Gonna marry Mary in the summertime
The Atlantic round our shoulders
Skies are dawning round the Langass Barpa
Stopped off at the white bridge waters
It's all crossroads lined with telegraph poles
A rise of larksong fills the morning

[Refrain]

And when we've wasted all our young years
Who's to say we never tried
To live fast and honour our pledges
Here we vowed to stay young till we die
We drank the life from the last of the bottle
We wrote our message out like a prayer
Then we threw away the message with all our hearts
Then we watched our lives disappear

You take your message to the waters
And you watch the ripples flow
Now somewhere out on that great beyond
Lies our fear should we grow old

[Refrain]

+ Cearcal A' Chuain (The Ocean's Cycle)
Tha sinn uile air cuan
Stiùireadh cuairt troimh ar beatha
A' seòladh geòla dhorch
Air chall an greim na mara
Tha a' ghaoth air ar cùl
Tha a' gheòl a' cumail roimphe
'S cha dean uair no an cuan
Tonaisg dhuinn no rian

A' mhuir tha i ciùin
Tha i fiadhaich, tha i farsainn
Tha i alainn , tha i diamhair
Tha i gamhlasach is domhain
Ach sinn, tha sinn dall
'S chan eil againn ach beatha
Tog an seòl, tog an ramh
Gus an faigh sinn astar ann

Ach tha mi'n dùil, tha mi'n dùil
Nuair a bhios a' ghrian dol fodha
Chi iad mi a' stiùireadh 'n iar
Null a dh' Uibhist air a' chearcal
Cearcal a' chuain
Gu brath bidh i a' tionndadh
Leam gu machair geal an iar
Far an do thòisich an là

traduction

We are all on the ocean
Steering a course through our lives
Sailing a dark ship
Lost in the grasp of the seas
The wind is behind us
The ship keeps moving forward
And neither the time nor the ocean
Can provide us with purpose or reason

The sea she is calm
She is wild, she is wide
She is beautiful, she is mysterious
She is vengeful, she is deep
But we are blind
All we have is existence
Lift the sail, take up the oars
Let us journey on

But it is my desire, my intention
When the sun finally sets
They will find me sailing west
Across to Uist on the circle
The ocean circle
It will forever keep turning me
To the white machairs of the west
Where day first began

+ Pog Aon Oidhche Earraich (A Kiss One Spring Evening)
An saoghal sia uairean
Obair la ri cùl
Teaghlach gabhal dhan a' mheas
Pailteas, slàinte is gaol
An Ruis a' tuiteam sios mu'm chluasan
An Ear Mheadhain am brot cho dorch
Is thusa, uilc is a' mhuirt is a' shabaid
Na mo bheatha a h-uile oidhche

An greim cho teann 's cho àraid
Mar òrd na mo dhorn
A 'ghealach ' bha cho soilleir
'S a gheall a leithid dhuinn
Bha sinn mar longan seòlaidh
Air cuan buidhe òg a 'chridhe
Mu coinneamh clann an t-saoghal's theaghlaich
Gun ghuth no gaire, Dia no biadh

"Cò às an d'thàinig na reultan", thuirt mi
"Co as an d'thàinig grian"
Tha sinn cho leòinte fo a' ghealaich seo
Anam cràidhte seachad air ifrinn fhèinn
Ach tha thusa brosnachadh nam bliadhnaichean
Le saidhbreas seachad air mo dhith
Cho geal ri sneachd gach uile gheamhradh
An t-òran gaoil m'fhaosaid chiontach fhèin

O luaidh be siod an gràdh
A dh'fhàg mi ceangailte ruit an dràsd'
Co shaoileadh an rud a dh'fhàs
Bho phog aon oidhche earraich

O luaidh be siod an gràdh
A dh'fhàg mi ceangailte ruit an dràsd'
Co shaoileadh an rud a dh'fhàs
Bho phog aon oidhche earraich

traduction

The world at six o'clock
The day's work over
Family, taking the fruits
Of plenty, good health and love
Russia is falling down all around me
The Middle East in a broth of darkness
And you, evil, murder and violence
In my life every evening

The grasp that was so strong and special
Like a hammer in my fist
The moon that was so bright
And promised us so much
We were like sailing ships
On the young, yellow ocean of the heart

Confronted by children and the world family
Without voice, laughter, God or food

"So where do the stars come from", I said
"From where did the sun appear"
We have been so wounded beneath this moon
Souls tortured beyond hell itself
Still you keep bringing inspiration to my years
With blessings beyond my need
Whiter than the snows of each winter
The song of love, my confession of guilt

Oh Love, what a power
That has now left me united with you
Who could have foreseen all that has grown
From one kiss, one spring evening

+ Skye
How can't you see
The wilderness growing free
Time wounded and scarred
Stroking away the years

It's hard to believe
But memories are old ghosts
Mountains of black and gold
Sunsets falling over the moor

[Oh take me there
's na horo eile, horo bho
's na horo bho, hillean o
's na horo eille ho
Take me there]

You take your dream
You make life what you feel
Appearances lead to deceive
This drama so far from me

Destiny
On facts aching wings
Wild geese fly low over your shores
Hearts sailing over the trees

[Refrain]

Chi mi an t-eilean uaine
Tir nam beanntan arda
Ceò a' tuiteam tron a' ghleann
'Na shineadh air do raointean

[Refrain]

traduction

I see the green island
Land of the high hills
Mists falling through your valleys
And lying down on your fields

+ Bruce ;)

"Thank you so much. I think it's been a month now, been about a month since the last time we played Glasgow, and after we finished playing the following day, I got to read this really glowing review of our concert. It glowed it glowed like a coal fire that hadn't been attended to for about 3 weeks. So I think it's only fair, that tonight, that I put out a few disclaimers in case there's anybody else getting ready to right something similar.
First of all, on behalf of the entire band, I would like to apologise for the way we dress. On behalf of my barber, I would like to apologise for the way he cuts my hair. And probably most importantly I'd like to apologise for uhmm, the way I sing with a Celtic lilt in my voice.
You see, coming from where I come from, Cape Breton, was once populated by oh about, 80 percent populated by highland scots, and I think there are a few of them still hanging around. There's about 17 pages of MacDonalds in the phone book. Cape Breton is like the Celtic hotbed for Celtic Music in Canada, so I can't for the life of me figure out where I got this Celtic lilt in my voice.
And my, ehh, my great grandmother on my father's side, who spoke more Gaelic than she did English, had a wonderful expression, Gaelic expression for people like the person that wrote glowing article. Pòg mo thòin."