Chì mi na mòrbheanna
Chì mi na mòrbheanna (commonly known in English as The Mist Covered Mountains of Home) is a Scottish Gaelic song that was written in 1856 by Highlander John Cameron. The song's tune was performed on the bagpipes during the state funerals of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002, Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, Former Ontario Lieutenant Governor David Onley in 2023 and Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in 2024.
Composition
[edit]The song was composed in 1856 by John Cameron (Iain Camshron), a native of Ballachulish[1] and known locally in the Gaelic fashion as Iain Rob and Iain Òg Ruaidh.[2] 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[3] 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[4] appeared in The Oban Times and in various song books.[5] He was buried in St. Munda's Isle in Loch Leven. Wreaths of oak leaves and ivy covered the bier[6] The song is a longing for home and, with its wistful, calming melody and traditional ballad rhythms,[7] is often used as a lullaby.[8]
Usage
[edit]A Gaelic arrangement of the song was recorded on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia folk singer John Allan Cameron's 1973 album "Lord Of The Dance", and The Rankin Family's debut album (1989). The song's tune was played on the bagpipes during the funerals of Queen Elizabeth II,[9][10] Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, John F. Kennedy,[11] Joe Strummer[12] and Brian Mulroney.
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, Mark Knopfler, Johnny Cunningham, Nightnoise (at the time including Johnny Cunningham) and Quadriga Consort.
Lyrics
[edit]Here are eight verses.
Original Scottish Gaelic[edit]
Four more verses appeared in the Oban Times in 1882
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Translation[edit]
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See also
[edit]- Ailein duinn
- Fear a' bhàta
- Gaelic music
- Smile In Your Sleep, Scottish folk song
References
[edit]- ^ "Sisters On A Journey" (PDF). Piper Grove. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, vol. 49, Sgeul O Ghleann Baile Chaoil, Eoghan Mac a' Phì, 1975
- ^ Highland News,26 Nov. 1898
- ^ Typographia Scoto-Gadelica ed. by Donald MacLean, 1915. John Grant, 31 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
- ^ Songs of Gaelic Scotland, Anne Lorne Gillies. Birlinn, 2005
- ^ The Oban Times, 26 Nov. 1898
- ^ "Gaelic mouth music and high tech". Green Left Weekly. 22 June 1994. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
- ^ "The Planet Sleeps". Philadelphia City Paper. 24 July 1997. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/opinion/columnists/4816435/queens-funeral-mist-covered-mountains-iain-maciver-opinion/. The Press and Journal. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ McLaughlin, Martyn (19 September 2022). "Queen funeral: A day of private grief and public pomp as Queen Elizabeth II is laid to rest". The Scotsman. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ "President Kennedy's Funeral Music". John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. 1 December 1963. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
- ^ Ross, Peter (16 December 2012). "Joe Strummer's bandmate and biographer on The Clash's famous frontman". The Scotsman. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ The Oban Times, 8 April 1882
