A ghruagach a' chuìl shnìomhanaich Bhean òg is miannach leam Do phearsa dhìreach chumachdail 'S i chuir mi ort an geall Is maiseach, banail, cliùteadh thu 'S ro mhodhail aig gach àm 'S tha bhlàth mar dhriùchd na h-iarmailt ort Mar dheàrrsadh grèin air fonn
'S ann thig an sìod' am fasan Air do chuailein mhaiseach dhonn Sùil chorrach is glan sealladh leam Mar dhearcagan nan tom Do ghruaidh mar na ròsan Nuair bhios iad òg is fann Do shlios mar fhaoileann mara Neo mar chanach geal nam beann
Mo chailin, ghrìnn, dheas, fhuranach Tha urram ort nach gann 'S tu thogadh smal is mìghean dhìom An uair bhiodh m' intinn trom 'S tu dhèanadh tric dhomh ùrachadh Bu shunndach thogadh fonn Le guth mar cheòl na fìdhle Neo mar smeòrach bhìnn nam beann
Ceud soraidh slàn thar chuantan leat A ghruagach, mhaiseach, dhonn Le dùil gum faic mi sàbhailt' thu Bheir mi mo dhàn gu ceann Ged chaidh thu fad' air astar bhuam A Ghlaschu nan Gall 'S i Tìr a' Mhurain dhubh-ghuirm A bu dùthchas dhut bhith ann
English:
Maiden of the ringletted hair Young woman I desire Your straight, well-proportioned body Pledges me to you You are comely, feminine renowned And always well-mannered Your bloom is like the airy dew Or the sun shining on the land
Silk becomes Your beautiful ringletted hair Sharp eyes of clear vision are to me Like the berries on the bush Your cheek like the roses When they are fresh and fragile Your side like the seagull Or the bog cotton of the mountain
My fair, lovely, kindly girl You are held in high regard You would lift sorrow and discontent from me When my mind is troubled You would often refresh me And would joyfully raise a tune With a voice like the fiddle's music Or the sweet thrush of the mountains
A hundred farewells across the ocean to you Beautiful brown-haired maiden In the hope of seeing you safe and well I'll bring my song to a close Though you wandered far from me To Glasgow of the Lowlanders You belong in your native land Of the blue-black maram grass