"From Miss Mairi MacRae, who learnt it from her mother, who came from the Island of Bernera in the Sound of Harris. Her story of the song was that Colin was a fairy whose cattle were the deer. His mortal sweetheart composed this song for their milking."
From Margaret Fay Shaw's Folksongs and Folklore of South Uist (1977), pp. 165-167.
1 Gun doireadh crodh Chailein am bainne do m'ghaol,
'S gun doireadh crodh Chailein am bainne do m'ghaol,
'S gun doireadh crodh Chailein am bainne do m'ghaol,
2 Air mullach a' mhunaidh gun luinneag, gun laogh.
(each repeat three times)
3 Crodh riabhach, breac, ballach air dhath nan cearc fraoich.
4 Crodh lìonadh nan cuman 's crodh a thogadh na laoigh.
5 Crodh Chailein, crodh Chailein, crodh Chailein mhic Cuinn.
6 'S gun dugadh crodh Chailein am bainn' air an fhraoich.
Translation
1 Colin's cattle would give their milk to my beloved,
2 On the top of the moor without milking song or calf.
3 Brindled, speckled, spotted cattle, the colour of the grouse.
4 Cattle that would fill the milk pails and rear the calves.
5 That cattle of Colin, son of Conn.
6 Colin's cattle would give their milk on the heather.
