Iain Ghlinn' Cuaich

This is the Barra version of a beautiful and tender song of unrequited love.
John of Glen Cuaich is thought to have belonged to the Perthshire glen of
that name.
O Iain Ghlinn' Cuaich, fear do choltais cha dual da fas,
Cul bachlach nan dual 's e gu camlubach suas gu bharr,
'S i do phearsa dheas ghrinn a dh'fhag mi cho tinn le gradh,
'S nach' eil cron ort ri inns' o mhullach do chinn gu d'sail.
Ach an trian dhe do chliu cha chuir mise, a ruin an ceill,
'S caoimh' faiteal dhe d'ghnuis na ur choille fo dhruchd ri grein,
Gum b' e miann mo dha shuil a bhith sealltainn gu dluth ad dheidh,
'S math a b'airidh mo run-s' air ban-oighre a' chruin fo sgeith.
Iain, Iain, a ghaoil, cuim' a leig thu me faoin air chul,
Gun ghuth cuimhn' air a' ghaol a bh'againn araon air tus?
Cha tug mise mo speis do dh'fhear eile fo'n ghrein ach thu,
Is cha toir as do dheidh gus an cairear mo chre 'san uir.
Ged a chinn thu rium fuar, bheil thu, Iain, gun truas 's mi 'm chas,
'S a liuthad la agus uair chuir thu 'n ceill gum bu bhuan do ghradh?
Ach ma chaochail mi buaidh, 's gun do choisinn mi t'fhuath na t-fhearg,
Tha mo bheannachd ad dheidh, 's feuch an tagh thu dhuit fhein nas fhearr.