Bratach Bàna
Scottish Traditional Song
Bratach Bàna is the title of a traditional, mouth music, waulking (working, fulling) song written in Gaelic thought to originate from the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.Literally, Bratach Bàna means "of white flags" or "of white banners". The words are taken from the song's first line "A mhic Iarla nam bratach bàna" which means "O son of the Earl of the white banners".
Waulking songs are Scottish folk songs, traditionally sung in the Gaelic language by women while waulking cloth. This practice involved a group of people beating newly woven tweed rhythmically against a table or similar surface to soften it. Simple, beat-driven songs were used to accompany the work.
A waulking session often begins with slow-paced songs, with the tempo increasing as the cloth becomes softer. As the singers work the cloth, they gradually shift it to the left so as to work it thoroughly. A tradition holds that moving the cloth anticlockwise is unlucky.
Typically one person sings the verse, while the others join in the chorus. As with many folk music forms, the lyrics of waulking songs are not always strictly adhered to. Singers might add or leave out verses depending on the particular length and size of tweed being waulked. Verses from one song might appear in another, and at times the lead singer might improvise to include events or people known locally.
The chorus to many waulking songs consists of meaningless vocables, serving a function similar to 'tra la la' or 'hey hey hey' in other song forms.
Related Scottish Country Dances
Bratach BànaBratach Bàna Traditional Gaelic Song, With English Translation
| Gaelic Version | EnglishTranslation |
|---|---|
| 'Ic iarla nam bratach bàna | O son of the earl of the white banners |
| 'Ic iarla nam bratach bàna | O son of the earl of the white banners |
| 'Ic iarla nam bratach bàna | O son of the earl of the white banners |
| Chunna' mi do long air sàile | I saw your longship on the sea |
| Séist | Chorus |
| Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro, | Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro, |
| Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro, | Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro, |
| Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro, | Hi 'illean beag hó ill ó ro, |
| Hu hoireann ó hu ó éileadh | Hu hoireann ó hu ó éileadh |
| Chunna' mi do long air sàile | I saw your longship on the sea |
| Chunna' mi do long air sàile | I saw your longship on the sea |
| Chunna' mi do long air sàile | I saw your longship on the sea |
| Bha stiùir òir oirr' 's dà chrann airgid | There was a helm of gold on her, and two masts of silver |
| Séist | Chorus |
| Bha stiùir òir oirr' 's dà chrann airgid | There was a helm of gold on her, and two masts of silver |
| Bha stiùir òir oirr' 's dà chrann airgid | There was a helm of gold on her, and two masts of silver |
| Bha stiùir òir oirr' 's dà chrann airgid | There was a helm of gold on her, and two masts of silver |
| 'S cupaill de shìoda na Gaillmhinn | And shrouds of silk from Galway |
| Séist | Chorus |
| 'S cupaill de shìoda na Gaillmhinn | And shrouds of silk from Galway |
| 'S cupaill de shìoda na Gaillmhinn | And shrouds of silk from Galway |
| 'S cupaill de shìoda na Gaillmhinn | And shrouds of silk from Galway |
| Sìoda reamhar ruadh na Spàinne | Rich red silk from Spain |
| Séist | Chorus |
| Sìoda reamhar ruadh na Spàinne | Rich red silk from Spain |
| Sìoda reamhar ruadh na Spàinne | Rich red silk from Spain |
| Sìoda reamhar ruadh na Spàinne | Rich red silk from Spain |
| Cha b'ann an Glaschu a bha e | It was not in Glasgow that it was seen |
| Séist | Chorus |
| Cha b'ann an Glaschu a bha e | It was not in Glasgow that it was seen |
| Cha b'ann an Glaschu a bha e | It was not in Glasgow that it was seen |
| Cha b'ann an Glaschu a bha e | It was not in Glasgow that it was seen |
| No 'n Dùn-Bheagain, 's beag o'n làr e | Nor in Dunvegan, small and lowly |
| Séist | Chorus |
| No 'n Dùn-Bheagain, 's beag o'n làr e | Nor in Dunvegan, small and lowly |
| No 'n Dùn-Bheagain, 's beag o'n làr e | Nor in Dunvegan, small and lowly |
| No 'n Dùn-Bheagain, 's beag o'n làr e | Nor in Dunvegan, small and lowly |
| No 'n Dùn-Tuilm nam bratach bàna | Nor in Duntulm of the white banners |
Bratach Bàna Song Video
Bratach Bàna Song - Information Video
Detail Of An 18th Century Engraving Of Scotswomen Waulking (Fulling) Cloth, And Singing, c. 1770
LearnGaelic - Dictionary Translate Gaelic To English
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Text from this original Waulking songs article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original Waulking, Fulling article on Wikipedia.
Image from www.marariley.net/celtic/scotland.htm, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
