Learning Gaelic songs - Ye Olde Scot The Celtic culture channel, 11-16-2019
Fear a' bhata - The Boatman
by Alison Helzer
Fear a' bhàta is a very traditional Gaelic song.
It is a song of unrequited love for a young
fisherman. There are many versions of this song,
but this version says that it was written at the
end of the 18th century by Sìne NicFhionnlaigh
from Tong on the Isle of Lewis for Donald MacRae
of Uig on the Isle of Lewis. He is the boatman she
laments for, and while this is a song full of despair,
in reality, the couple end up marrying a year after
the song was written. Songs, in general, tend to
exaggerate words and sounds to fit the song to the
music and Gaelic music is no exception and some
of the words are just nonsense words that sound
good and make the song work. So enjoy learning
Fear a' bhàta
