What Do the ‘Brave’ Song Lyrics Mean?

Have you seen the beautiful new TV spot for Pixar’s new animated movie, Brave?

The 30 second promo features some haunting lyrics from Julie Fowlis in Scottish Gaelic. Although I’m Irish, and my Irish Gaelic is a little rusty, there are enough similarities for some translation.

Feasgar ciùin an tùs a’ Chèitein
Nuair bha ‘n ialtag anns na speuran
Chualaim rìbhinn òg ‘s i deurach
‘Seinn fo sgàil nan geugan uain’

On a quiet evening in early May
When the bat was in the skies
I heard a tearful young maiden
singing beneath the shadow of the green branches

 The song is entitled Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird A’ Chuain (My Love is on the High Seas)  and the full song lyrics can be found here.