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Updated 07/10/2019

 


The Cave of Gold

According to legend, a piper enters the Cave of Gold (Uamh an Oir, in Gaelic), often alone, but sometimes accompanied by his faithful dog, a troop of friends,or even a wedding party. The cave might be on Skye, Uist, Barra, Colonsay, or Mull, or in the adjacent highlands of Inverness, Argyll, Kintyre, or Ross. Wherever the tale is told the piper's fate is the same. From deep in the cave he is heard to exclaim, "Oh that I had three hands! Two for the pipes and one for my sword!" The piper never returns but he can sometimes be heard still playing bravely in the depths of the earth.

Lyrics: English Translation:
   
Is truagh a rìgh gun trì làmhan My, it's a pity I don't have three hands
Dà làimh sa phìob, dà làimh sa phìob Two hands for the pipe, two hands for the pipe
Is truagh a rìgh gun trì làmhan My, it's a pity I don't have three hands
Dà làimh sa phìob 's làmh sa' chlaidheamh Two hands for the pipe and one for the sword
   
Sèist: Chorus (after each verse):
Eadarainn a' chruit, a' chruit, a' chruit Between us the harp, the harp, the harp
Eadarainn a' chruit, mo chuideachd air m'fhàgail Between us the harp, since my kin has left me
Eadarainn a luaidh, a luaidh, a luaidh Between us, my love, my love, my love
Eadarainn a luaidh, 's i ghall' uain a shàraich mi Between us, my love, the green she-dog devastated me
   
Mo thaobh fodham m'fheòil air breòthadh Lying on my side, my flesh rotting
Daol am shùil, daol am shùil Beetle in my eye, beetle in my eye
Dà bhior iarainn gan sìor fhiaradh Two iron pins continually thrusting
Ann am ghlùin, ann am ghlùin Into my knee, into my knee
   
Bidh na minn mheigeach nan gobhar chreagach Bleating kids will be rock-climbing goats
Man tig mise, man till mis' à Uamh an Oir, Uamh an Oir Before I come, before I return from the Cave of Gold
'S na lothan cliata nan eich dhialta And meadow-pastured colts will be saddled for riding
Man tig mise, man till mis' à Uamh an Oir, Uamh an Oir Before I come, before I return from the Cave of Gold
   
Bidh na laoigh bheaga nan crodh eadraidh Young calves will be milking-cows
Man tig mise, man till mis' à Uamh an Oir, Uamh an Oir Before I come, before I return from the Cave of Gold
'S na mic uchda nam fir fheachda And boys on the lap will be men-at-arms
Man tig mise, man till mis' à Uamh an Oir, Uamh an Oir Before I come, before I return from the Cave of Gold
   
'S iomadh maighdeann òg fo ceud bhàrr Many's the young virgin in her first bloom
Thèid a-null, thèid a-null Will have gone beyond, gone beyond
Man tig mise, man till mis' à Uamh an Oir, Uamh an Oir Before I come, before I return from the Cave of Gold