Ged a sheòl mi air m' aineol
Cha laigh smalan air mi' inntinn
Ged a sheòl mi air m' aineol
'S ann à Boston a sheòl sinn
Dol air bhoidse chun na h-Ìnnsinn
Rinn sinn còrdadh ri captain
Air a' bhàrc a bha rìomhach
Trì latha roimh na Nollaig
Thàinig oirnn an droch shìde
Shèid i cruaidh oirnn le frasan
'S clachan mheallain a bha millteach
Cha robh ròpa 's cha robh òirleach
Nuair a reoth ann nach robh trì ann
Chaill sinn craiceann ar làmhan
Bha ar gàirdeanan sgìth dheth
Cha còignear nan seasamh
'S bha seachdnar nan sìneadh
Trì latha is trì oidhche
'S mi ri chuibhle ri droch shìde
Nuair a labhair an captain
"Illean tapaidh na dìobraibh
Nuair a ruigeas sibh cala
Bidh ur drama dhuibh cinnteach
Tha lionn-diubh aig mo mhàthair
Is dùil aic' nach till mi
English Translation:
Chorus (after each verse):
Although I sailed to foreign countries
Sadness did not linger in my mind
Although I sailed to foreign countries
We sailed from Boston
On a voyage to the Indies
We came to an agreement with a skipper
Of a handsome ship
Three days before Christmas
Bad weather descended upon us
The wind blew strongly with rain
And stinging hailstones
When the inch-thick ropes froze
They became three inches in girth
We lost the skin of our hands
And our arms were tired of the struggle
Five of the crewmembers were standing
And seven were prone
I spent three days and three nights
At the wheel during the storm
That is when the skipper said
"Do not yield, stout-hearted lads
When you reach port
"Your dram will be certain"
My mother is dejected
Because she does not expect me to return
