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Scots

Gaelic songs are below all the Scots ones. Click here to go there now.

Click on the for more information about each song.

Complexity key under song name: *=simple **=medium ***=complex

A pronunciation guide to all Scots words is provided. MIDI files for all songs can be heard on the details page.

You can listen to a sound clip of songs displaying one of these logos:

Song clips copyright © Rudsambee company of singers.

Ref. Title Description Price Band
1001
SATB 		Ae fond kiss
**
A new setting, richly harmonised by Frances Cockburn, of Robert Burns' famous song about the pain of parting with 'no regrets'. SATB with quartet verse and optional soli. approx 3m 00s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1002
SATB 		A song
*
'And wud ye tak love lichtly, and let it bide or gang?' (would you take love lightly, and let it stay or go?) Scots poem by William Soutar, music by Michael Buck. approx 0m 45s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
5022
SAB
& organ 		A prayer for peace
**
 A simple and beautifully structured prayer for peace, based on words from the Scottish Psalter of 1650. Written by David Barton, for SAB voices and organ. approx 3m 00s
more...more information
B
1024
SATB 		Auld lang syne
**
Yes, it has verses, good ones too! Burns' most famous song of enduring friendship which can (and should) be sung at any time of year. Arr. Sheena Phillips. approx 4m 00s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
5001
SATB 		Aurora rutilat
(Dawn glows red)
***
'Aurora rutilat lucis prenuncia...' ('Dawn glows red, heralding daylight'). Atmospheric and soaring setting of a text honouring the 6th century Scottish St Columba, based on a Medieval plainchant. Music by Sheena Phillips. approx 3m 20s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included hear a soundclip 		C
5013
SATB
& children 		Aurora rutilat
(Dawn glows red)
***
 As above, set for SATB adult and two part children's chorus. approx 3m 20s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included hear a soundclip 		C
1003
SATB 		Ay waukin, o
(always awake)
*
'Sleep I can get nane, for thinkin on my dearie...' A new setting of Burns' plaintive song of sorrow and night wakefulness. Arr. Sheena Phillips. approx 2m 40s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included hear a soundclip 		B
1004
SATB 		Ballad
*
 'O! Shairly ye hae seen my love doun whaur the waters wind?' - A short, stark ballad about the disappearance of a fisherman. Words by Perthshire poet William Soutar, music by Ernest Buck, arr. by Michael Buck. approx 2m 00s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1020
SATB 		Ballad of lost ladye
*
A mysterious and chilling story, allegedly based on a true incident in which a 20th century visitor to Iona was found dead by the fairy mound. Poem by Helen Cruickshank (1886-1975), music by Michael Buck. approx 2m 30s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1019
SATB 		Balulalow
***
'I come from hevin heich to tell, The best nowells that e'er befell.' Anonymous 16th century Scottish lullaby to the Christ child arranged by Douglas Cook for unaccompanied SATB chorus with tenor and soprano soli. approx 3m 40s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		C
1013
SATB 		Both sides the Tweed
*
'Think them poorest who can be a slave, them richest who dare to be free.' A powerful song by Scots singer Dick Gaughan based on traditional words. Arr. for choir by Frances Cockburn. approx 2m 40s
more...more information 		B
1005
SATB 		Cauld blaws the wind
**
'Up in the morning early's no for me' -especially when it's a cold, cold wind that blows. A brisk wintry song with a folk feel. Words by Robert Burns, music by Sheena Phillips. approx 1m 30s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1006
SSATB 		Day is düne
**
'The darg is owre and the day is düne'. The day's work is done, and all the nodding heads are weary. A Scots lullaby by William Soutar (1898-1943), setting by Sheena Phillips. approx 2m 00s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1007
SATB 		Dream Angus
***
'Hush ye my baby and sleep without fear, Dream Angus has brought you a dream, my dear.' A trad. Scots lullaby, set by Sheena Phillips. approx 2m 30s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		C
1016
SATB 		Hungry waters
*
'The old men o' the sea wi' their daberlack hair'. Short but sharp poem by Hugh MacDiarmid about the violent aspect of the sea's nature. Music by Frances Cockburn. approx 0m 30s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		A
1008
SATB 		I love, great God above
*
'I can take love or leave it, and I can always find someone else who will love me on my terms'. A lively dance song from the court of James VI of Scotland (16th century), arranged by Sheena Phillips. approx 0m 30s (sung once through)
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1015
TTBB 		Lassie, lie near me
**
'Lang hae we parted been, lassie my dearie; now we are met again, lassie lie near me'. By Robert Burns but based on a traditional Scots song. Arranged for male voices by Peter Hill and Sheena Phillips. approx 2m 00s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1009
SATB 		Mary's song
**
'I wad hae gi'en him my lips to kiss, had I been his...' A gentle poem by Marion Angus (1865-1946), tender music by Frances Cockburn. Alto solo first verse with tune in alto throughout. approx 2m 40s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included hear a soundclip 		B
1023
SATB 		The midgies descending
**
A depiction of clouds of hungry hovering midgies with whom visitors to North West Scotland will be familiar. Watch out for the soprano supermidge. Music and hums by Sheena Phillips approx 1m 10s
more...more information 		A
1032
SATB

1033
SSAA 		Minnie O'Shirva's cradle song
*
A charming Shetland lullaby, arranged by Frances Cockburn in versions for SATB and SSAA a cappella voices. approx 2m 0s
more details: SATB versionmore information SSAA versionmore information 		A
SATB
SSAA
1017
SATB 		Munelight amang the pines
**
A beautifully evocative song comparing the play of light and shadow in nature with the light and dark of a person's love life. Poem by Hugh MacDiarmid (1892-1978), music by Frances Cockburn. approx 0m 45s
more...more information 		B
1031
SATB
 with tenor solo 		My love is like a red, red rose
**
One of Burns' most famous songs. Michael Buck's setting stays very close to Burns' original melody. approx 3m 00s
more...more information 		B
1030
SATB 		Oh! Why left I my hame?
**
A popular 19th century song of yearning for Scotland. Words by Robert Gilfillan; tune traditional arranged for SATB chorus by Richard John. approx 3m 45s
more...more information 		C
1014
SATB 		The puddock
***
A fat frog is feeling pretty pleased with himself, but you never know what's just around the corner...Poem by JM Caie, tune Peter Hill, arr. by Sheena Phillips approx 1m 30s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1010
SSA 		Rare Willy drowned in Yarrow
***
A haunting traditional Scots border ballad, set for female voices by Marg Hall. approx 2m 00s
more...more information 		B
1022
SATB 		Sea buckthorn
**
Bide the storm ye canna hinder, mindin' through the strife, hoo the luntin' lowe o' beauty lichts the grey o' life. Poem by Helen Cruickshank (1886-1975). Music by Michael Buck approx 1m 45s
more...more information 		B
1011
SATB 		There was a sang
**
An evocation of a past love that will never be forgotten. Poem by Helen Cruikshank (1886-1975) music by Michael Buck. approx 1m 40s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
6001-
6003
S or SS chorus
 and piano 		Three Soutar Songs
**
William Soutar was dedicated to the Scots language and wrote many delightful poems for children. Three Soutar Songs is a sequence of three contrasting poems about a graveyard hooligan, a sad princess and a clunking old windmill respectively, set to music by Sheena Phillips. They are written for children's voices (the first in unison, the other two in two parts) and piano. See individual titles for details approx 4m 00s

6001 The muckle man approx. 0'40 more...more information A
6002 The princess Anastasia approx. 1'30 A
6003 The windmill approx. 1'45 C
Set of all 3 songs:
D
1012
SATB 		To a ladye
*
The ladye in question has 'everie virtew that is held most deir' - except only that she is 'mercyles' (merciless). A quiet and reflective setting of a poem by the early Scots poet William Dunbar (c.1460 - c.1513), who served at the court of James IV of Scotland. Set to music for SATB chamber chorus (4-8 singers) by Michael Buck. approx 2m 15s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
4010
SATB 		Villanelle de Noel
**
(Words in Scots). A Christmas fable telling how the robin got its red breast, attempting to wrest the nails from Christ's hand. Poem by Tom Scott, music by Michael Buck approx 2m 00s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1021
SATB 		The wee sma' glen
*
A celebration of a quiet and beautiful place in rural Perthshire. Words by Marion Angus (1865-1946) set to music by Frances Cockburn approx 1m 15s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1018
SATB 		When day is done
**
'Sorrow remembers us...it sits in its old chair, gently rocking.' Poem by Ian Crichton Smith, setting by Michael Buck approx 2m 00s
more...more information 		B
1029
SATB 		Winds of the world
*
Love can be blown away like a flower in the wind, but it still leaves a trace in the heart. Words by Marion Angus (1865-1946) set to music by Frances Cockburn approx 1m 15s
more...more information
full pronunciation guide included 		B
1028
SATB 		The winter it is past
*
A setting for SATB and soprano solo of a song by Robert Burns about the constancy of a woman's love and the wanderings of a man's. Adaptation of a traditional song by Robert Burns, arranged by Sheena Phillips approx 2m 30s
more...more information 		B
 


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 Gaelic







Click on the  for more information about each song.

 Complexity  key under song name: *=simple  **=medium  ***=complex 


A pronunciation guide and translation to 
the Gaelic words is provided.   MIDI files for all songs can be heard on the details page.

 You can listen to a  sound clip of songs displaying one of these logos:  




Song clips copyright © Rudsambee company of singers. 



















Words in Gaelic 
Don't be put off by the look of the words,  we give you a detailed pronunciation guide to each song. CDs containing recorded versions of many of our songs are available to purchase too - please contact us for details.
      
 Gaelic puirt-a-beul (mouth music) are songs sung so that people could 
        dance, when there weren't any musical instruments available. They are 
        frequently traditional dance tunes that have silly words put to them - 
        some dafter than others! It is quite common to run tunes together, one 
        after the other, and we have put together several sets of tunes in this 
        way. The sets appear at the head of the catalogue, before the rest of 
        the songs which appear in alphabetical order. Individual tunes from the 
        sets may still be purchased separately if you prefer. 
      



























 




Ref.
Title
Description
Price




1503
SATB


Tha bean agam


(I have a wife)



* 
 



'I have a wife, a stream, a lump of white soap and a filthy shirt.  How can I get it clean by tomorrow so I can go out?'  Puirt-a-beul (mouth music) Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.
approx  0m 50s (sung twice through)



  more...more information


full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A




Individually:

A


Set of 4:


D




 order
 'mouth music set 1'




buy whole set









1504
SATB


Chuala mi e


(I heard it)



*




'I heard it from three people'.   Puirt-a-beul (mouth music) Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.
approx  1m 00s
  


  more...more information

full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A








1505
SATB


Còta fad air Dòmhnull Lòm


(A long coat on Skinny Donald)



**




Skinny Donald wears a long coat and short trousers, and it's about time his hair saw a comb.   Puirt-a-beul (mouth music) Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.  
approx 1m 00s



 more...more information

full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A








1506
SATB


'S ann an Ile


(It's on Islay)



* 
 



'I was born and brought up on the beautiful Isle of Islay'.  Puirt-a-beul (mouth music) Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.
approx  1m 30s



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included
buy this piece

A








1507
SATB


Tha mi sgìth 


(I am tired)



* 
  



'I'm tired, pulling up bracken half way up the mountain and all alone' -Trad. arr. Peter Hill.
approx  1m 10s



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A




Individually:

A


Set of 3:

C




order
'mouth music set 2'


buy whole set








1508
SATB


Meal do bhrògan dùbha, Neill


(Enjoy your black shoes, Neil!)



** 
 



Neil plans to wear out some shoe-leather when his eagle-eyed mum goes away on her travels. Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.
approx 1m 00s



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A








1509
SATB


An tàillear mhór


(The big tailoress)



* 
 



He'd love to go off with the tall tailoress, but unfortunately he has an extremely unpleasant wife to dispose of first!  Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.  
approx  0m 50s



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A








1511
SATB


Bodachan
a-ri-a-ro



* 
 



The old shepherd enjoys a drink and has to be put to bed.  Port-a-beul (mouth music) -Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.
approx 1m 00s



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A




Individually:

A


Set of 3:

C




 order
 'mouth music set 3'




buy whole set







1512
SATB


Nam biodh tri sgillinn agam



* 
 



'If I had threepence I'd spend it on drink, if I had sixpence I'd try getting married'. Port-a-beul (mouth music), trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.
approx 0m 40s when sung three times



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included


buy this piece

A








1513
SATB


Hé mandu 



** 
 

      A stirring and mesmeric trad. Gaelic waulking song arr. Peter 
      Hill. approx 1m 45s 

 more...more information

full pronunciation guide included
A version voiced for womens or children's voices 
      is also available.


buy this piece

A









1514

SATB



Duan Nollaig


(Christmas Song)



* 
 



A Gaelic carol with a rousing chorus from the Hebridean Isles of Scotland. The verses describe the attributes of the Christ child, and are beautifully 
alliterative.  Trad. arr. by Sheena Phillips.
approx  1m 30s


 more...more information



 full pronunciation guide included



B












1502

SATB



Fhir a'bhàta


(O, boatman)



**




The song of a broken-hearted girl, waiting for the boatman who will probably never return. A beautiful lilting traditional tune arr. by Sheena Phillips.
approx 4m 00s



  more...more information


 full pronunciation guide included

hear a soundclip



C











1510
SATB


Gaol mo chridh-sa Màiri Bhàn 


(Mairi's wedding)



** 
 



'My heart's love; fair-haired Mary.'  The original 'Lewis Bridal Song' (Mairi's Wedding) - Trad. arr. Sheena Phillips.
approx  2m 10s



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included



B












1501

SATB



Gràdh geal mo chridhe 


(the bright love of my heart)



* 




A lovely slow and heartfelt song, widely known as the Eriskay Love Lilt, or by its anglicised refrain - ' ver mi o, ro van o'. Traditional Gaelic song arr. for SATB with tenor solo, by Sheena Phillips.
approx 2m 30s  



 more...more information


full pronunciation guide included



B












1516

SSAA



Hé mandu



* 
 

      A stirring and mesmeric trad. Gaelic waulking song voiced 
      for female or children's chorus (waulking songs were predominantly women's 
      work songs). approx 
      1m 45s 

 more...more information




full pronunciation guide included

 An SATB version is also available.



A












1515

SAT



Tàladh Chrìosda


(Lullaby to the Christ child)



* 
 



A beautiful and simple Hebridean Gaelic carol, which addresses the Christ child with the most gorgeous and endearing words.  Trad. arr. by Sheena Phillips.
approx  3m 30s


 more...more information



 full pronunciation guide included



B



















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Page updated 
by  Peter Hill March 2008