Chì mi na mòrbheanna (commonly known in English as The Mist Covered Mountains of Home) is a

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

song that was written in 1856 by Highlander John Cameron (Iain Camshroin), a native of

Ballachulish The village of Ballachulish ( or , from Scottish Gaelic ) in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, is centred on former slate quarries. The name Ballachulish (Ballecheles, 1522 – Straits town) was more correctly applied to the area now called No ...

and known locally in the Gaelic fashion as Iain Rob and Iain Òg Ruaidh. He worked in the slate quarries before moving to Glasgow where he was engaged as a ship's broker. He became the Bard of the Glasgow Ossianic Society and also Bard to Clan Cameron. He returned to carry on a merchant's business along with his elder brother and to cultivate a small croft at Taigh a' Phuirt, Glencoe, in his beloved Highlands. Other songs and odes appeared in

The Oban Times ''The Oban Times'' is a local, weekly newspaper, published in Oban, Argyll and Bute on a Thursday. It covers the West Highlands and Islands of Scotland, reporting on issues from the Mull of Kintyre to Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland, to the Inne ...

and in various song books. He was buried in St. Munda's Isle in Loch Leven. Wreaths of oak leaves and ivy covered the bier The song is a longing for home and, with its wistful, calming melody and traditional ballad rhythms, is often used as a lullaby.

Usage

A Gaelic arrangement of the song was recorded on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia folk singer

John Allan Cameron John Allan Cameron, (16 December 1938 – 22 November 2006) was a Canadian folk singer, "The Godfather of Celtic Music" in Canada. Noted for performing traditional music on his twelve string guitar, he released his first album in 1969. He ...

's 1973 album "Lord Of The Dance", and

The Rankin Family The Rankin Family (originally known as The Rankins) are a Canadian musical family group from Mabou, Nova Scotia. The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four Society of Composers, Author ...

's debut album (1989). The song was also played during the funerals of

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952 as the wife of King George VI. She was the l ...

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

and

Joe Strummer John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British singer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, ...

. This song is commonly known in English as "The Mist-Covered Mountains of Home," and under that title it has been recorded by many artists, including

John Renbourn John Renbourn (8 August 1944 – 26 March 2015) was an English guitarist and songwriter. He was best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo care ...

Mark Knopfler Mark Freuder Knopfler (born 12 August 1949) is a British singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Born in Scotland and raised in England, he was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits. He pursued a s ...

Johnny Cunningham Johnny Cunningham (27 August 1957 – 15 December 2003) was a Scottish folk musician and composer, instrumental in spreading interest in traditional Celtic music. Johnny Cunningham was born on 27 August 1957 in Portobello, Edinburgh. He was r ...

Nightnoise Nightnoise was a music ensemble active from 1984 to 1997. Their original blend of Irish traditional music, Celtic music, jazz, and classical chamber music inspired a generation of Irish musicians. They released seven albums on the Windham Hill ...

(at the time ''including'' Johnny Cunningham) and

Quadriga Consort Quadriga Consort aka Quadriga Early Music Band is an early music ensemble from Austria. Founded in 2001 by harpsichordist Nikolaus Newerkla, the ensemble plays rearranged early British and Irish traditional music performed on period instruments. ...

Lyrics

Here are eight verses.

Original
Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

::''Sèist:'' :O, chì, chì mi na mòrbheanna; :O, chì, chì mi na còrrbheanna; :O, chì, chì mi na coireachan, :Chì mi na sgorran fo cheò. :Chì mi gun dàil an t-àite 'san d' rugadh mi; :Cuirear orm fàilte 'sa chànan a thuigeas mi; :Gheibh mi ann aoidh agus gràdh nuair ruigeam, :Nach reicinn air thunnachan òir. ::''Sèist'' :Chì mi ann coilltean; chì mi ann doireachan; :Chì mi ann maghan bàna is torraiche; :Chì mi na fèidh air làr nan coireachan, :Falaicht' an trusgan de cheò. ::''Sèist'' :Beanntaichean àrda is àillidh leacainnean; :Sluagh ann an còmhnaidh is còire chleachdainnean; :'S aotrom mo cheum a' leum 'gam faicinn; :Is fanaidh mi tacan le deòin. ::''Sèist'' :Fàilt' air na gorm-mheallaibh, tholmach, thulachnach; :Fàilt air na còrr-bheannaibh mòra, mulanach; :Fàilt' air na coilltean, is fàilt' air na h-uile - :O! 's sona bhith fuireach 'nan còir. ::''Sèist'' Four more verses appeared in the Oban Times in 1882
written as follows: :Chì mi a' ghrian an liath nam flaitheanas, :Chì mi 's an iar a ciar 'n uair laigheas i; :Chan ionnan 's mar tha i ghnàth 's a' bhaile seo :'N deatach a' falach a glòir. :Gheibh mi ann ceòl bho eòin na Duthaige, :Ged a tha 'n t-àm thar am na cuthaige, :Tha smeòraichean ann is annsa guth leam :Na pìob, no fìdheall mar cheòl. :Gheibh mi le lìontan iasgach sgadain ann, :Gheibh mi le iarraidh bric is bradain ann; :Nam faighinn mo mhiann 's ann a stadainn, :'S ann ann as fhaid' bhithinn beò. :Fàgaidh mi ùpraid, surd, is glagaraich, :Dh'fhaicinn na tìr an cluinnt' a' chagaraich, :Fàgaidh mi cùirtean dùinte, salach, :A dh'amharc air gleannaibh nam bò.The Oban Times, 8 April 1882

Translation

::''Chorus:'' :O, I see, I see the big mountains; :O, I see, I see the steep mountains; :O, I see, I do see the corries, :I see the mist-covered peaks. :I see without delay the land of my birth; :I am welcomed in the language I cherish. :I will receive there hospitality, and love when I reach it :That I'd trade not for tons of gold. ::''Chorus'' :I see there woods, and I see there thickets, :I see there the fair and most fertile of meadows; :I see there the deer on the ground in the corries :Hiding in mantles of mist. ::''Chorus'' :Lofty mountains and resplendent ledges, :There dwell my own folk, kind folk of honor. :Light is my step as I leap up to meet them; :'Tis with pleasure I'll stay there a while. ::''Chorus'' :Hail to the blue-green grassy hills; :Hail to the great peaked hummocky mountains; :Hail to the forests, hail to all there, :Content I would live there forever. ::''Chorus''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chi Mi Na Morbheanna Scottish songs Scottish patriotic songs Scottish Gaelic music Scottish Gaelic poems

Usage

Lyrics

Original Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

Translation

See also

References

Original
Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...