This is a song I wrote in September 2023 inspired by some of the silly phrases that come up in the Scottish Gaelic lessons on Duolingo. It's in the style of a waulking song, a type of song that was traditionally sung in Scotland while women were waulking tweed cloth. This involved pounding it on a table to shrink it and make it more watertight. Songs helped pass the time and gave a rhythm to the work.

Here are the words:

Tha spùinneadairean-mara ann am Port Rìgh
Ruith air falbh, ruith air falbh
Tha guga aca is iad ga ithe
Ruith air falbh an dràsta fhèin

There are pirates in Portree
Run away, run away
With the salted gannet they like to eat
Run away right now

Tha Niseag ag òl IRN BRU
Ruith air falbh, ruith air falbh
Is dannsaidh i san talla a-nochd
Ruith air falbh an dràsta fhèin

Nessie is drinking IRN BRU
Run away, run away
And she'll dance in the hall tonight
Run away right now

Tha bradan beag anns a' drathair
Ruith air falbh, ruith air falbh
Is buntàta bòidheach air a' bhàr
Ruith air falbh an dràsta fhèin

There's a small salmon in the drawer
Run away, run away
And an pretty potato on the bar
Run away right now

Tha leòmhainn a' leum ann an Leòdhas
Ruith air falbh, ruith air falbh
Is tha Leagsaidh leisg ri a leannan
Ruith air falbh an dràsta fhèin

A lion is leaping in Lewis
Run away, run away
And lazy Lexy is with her lover
Run away right now

It can be sung in one or other of the languages, or in both, as I do in the recording.

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