Tha Fionnlaigh Ag Innearach reel

A simple but very catchy Scottish tune from the Battlefield Bands “Dookin’” album. The name translates as “Finlay Spreading Manure”. Seems like quite a happy tune for that title.

Maybe the composer didn’t like Finlay. 🙂

The title is from the puirt-a-beul. Julie Fowlis includes it in a set on her album Cuilidh.

In the liner notes Dr Angus MacDonald’s “Maidean Dubh’ an Donais” he says he takes his setting of the Reel of Tulloch from this puirt-a-beul.

A rough transcription of Julie Fowlis’s singing of the tune.

Alistair, I really am starting to think you’re right, what with the composer creating such a jovial tune about a man who was nearly killed with a load of corn… 😳

Here are the lyrics in English and Gaelic.

Source: www.celticlyricscorner.net

English ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gàidhlig

Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh ‘s a mhàthair ~~~ Finlay and his mother
A’ ràcadh na h-innearach ~~~ Are raking the manure
Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh ‘s a mhàthair ~~~ Finlay and his mother
A’ ràcadh na h-innearach ~~~ Are raking the manure

Theab Màiri a mharbhadh ~~~ Mary nearly killed him
A mharbhadh, a mharbhadh ~~~ Killed him, killed him
Theab Màiri a mharbhadh ~~~ Mary nearly killed him
Fon an eallach arbhair ~~~ With the load of corn
Theab Màiri a mharbhadh ~~~ Mary nearly killed him
A mharbhadh, a mharbhadh ~~~ Killed him, killed him
Theab Màiri a mharbhadh ~~~ Mary nearly killed him
Fon an eallach arbhair ~~~ With the load of corn

Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh le bhriogais odhar ~~~ Finlay with his dun-colored trousers
A’ cur fodh’ na h-innearach ~~~ Is digging in the manure
Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh ag innearadh ~~~ Finlay is spreading manure
Tha Fionnlagh le bhriogais odhar ~~~ Finlay with his dun-colored trousers
A’ cur fodh’ na h-innearach ~~~ Is digging in the manure