An t-Ionnsachadh
Mo chridh’ dhan tìr a thug àrach dhan chànan,
mar thobar beartach, is sruth de dhualchas;
’s mòr mo dheòin nach biodh i leònt’ san linn -
an d’rinn thu ’n èisteachd a dh’fhàg
an t-ionnsachadh cho bòidheach?
Is sruthadh deòir nam mùchainn a ciùil,
nan tigeadh ceò a thachdadh ar ceòl;
mar eun a chaill ugh: ar tìr nis gun ghuth -
an d’rinn thu ’n èisteachd a dh’fhàg
an t-ionnsachadh cho bòidheach?
A ghill’ òig, an cluinn thu ’n t-seinn?
A nighneig bhig, an tog thu ’n t-sèist?
A chlann nach gabh sinn ceathramhan còmhla?
An d’rinn thu ’n èisteachd a dh’fhàg
an t-ionnsachadh cho bòidheach?
’s e an t-ionnsachadh òg, an t-ionnsachadh bòidheach
the learning
My heart to the land that raised the language,
as a rich well, and a stream of heritage;
I greatly wish for her not to be wounded in our time -
did you listen in the way that
allowed for such beautiful learning?
Tears would flow if I suffocated her music,
if a fog came to choke our music;
like a bird that lost an egg: our land now voiceless -
did you listen in the way that
allowed for such beautiful learning?
Young boy, can you hear the singing?
Little girl, will you pick up the chorus?
Children, let’s sing verses together?
Did you listen in the way that
allowed for such beautiful learning?
the young learning is the beautiful learning (meaning to learn young is to learn well).