A shieling (Gaelic àirigh) is a small house or hut
once common in the hills and mountains of Scotland and
northern England. The word also refers to a mountain
pasture used for the grazing of cattle in summer.
Farmers and their families lived there during the
summer to have their livestock graze common land.
Shielings were therefore associated with the
transhumance system of agriculture. The huts generally
fell out of use by the end of the 17th century,
although in remote areas this system conti...(+)
A shieling (Gaelic àirigh) is a small house or hut
once common in the hills and mountains of Scotland and
northern England. The word also refers to a mountain
pasture used for the grazing of cattle in summer.
Farmers and their families lived there during the
summer to have their livestock graze common land.
Shielings were therefore associated with the
transhumance system of agriculture. The huts generally
fell out of use by the end of the 17th century,
although in remote areas this system continued into the
18th.
The Lyrics in English are:
Last night by the sheiling was Mhairi, my beloved,
Out on the hillside by the sheiling, my Mhairi, my
beloved,
Mo Mhairi, mo leannan, mo Mhairi, my beloved,
On the hillside by the sheiling, my Mhairi, my
beloved.
Like the white lily floating in the peathag's dark
waters,
Pure and white as the lily in the peathag's dark
waters,
Mo Mhairi, mo leannan, mo Mhairi, my beloved,
Like the lily white floating in the peathag's dark
waters.
Like the blue gentian blooming, wet wi' dew in the
sunshine,
Are the eyes of my Mhairi, purple blue in the
sunshine,
Mo Mhairi, mo leannan, mo Mhairi, my beloved,
Lily-white, pure, gentian-eyed is my Mhairi, my
beloved.
Although originally written for folk instrumentation
and voice, I created this arrangement for Flute and
Concert (Pedal) Harp.