Scottish Heritage

Ancestor Month

Sep 27

Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day

Ancestor Month

Scottish Heritage

Today's Musings, History & Folklore

"🎶 Air fàir an là o ho-o
Hao ri rì o ho
Siuth’daibh, siuth’daibh, a mhnathan
E ho hiri iù o ho"

~ Air Fàir An Là

September is the month dedicated to remembering and honouring our ancestral lineage and impact on the modern world and for keeping alive those stories, customs, traditions, and cultural pursuits of the past. This 48 bar John Drewry jig was devised as an attempt to create a variation for the ending of the dance "Holyrood House"! Enjoy a quick and breathtaking visual tour of modern Scotland from the Visit Scotland site accompanied by the rhythmic and haunting modern rendition of the traditional Gaelic folk song, “Air Fàir An Là" (At Break of Day). This song may have originally been a rowing song as it describes going to Dunvegan (Isle of Skye) to collect a boat. It was composed by the great bard Màiri Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh (c.1615-c.1707), who is said to have been buried face-down (the Norse method for burying witches) at her own request, in her home village of Rodel, Harris. Keep hold! "Hao ri rì o ho" 💙 💜 🖤 🤍 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

John Drewry's notes for this dance state:

"I have always felt that, although the beginning of “Holyrood House” was very good, the rest of the dance failed to live up to the initial promise. Perhaps this is explained by the fact that the dance, like the camel, was “a horse designed by a committee”. This dance is an attempt !o improve the ending of “Holyrood House”. At first, I thought of calling this dance “Rizzio’s Revenge - or the Murder of Holyrood House”, but, later, had a more poetic inspiration. Jim and Mary used to live beside Holyrood Park during their days in Edinburgh."

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Here is the translation of Air fàir an là . Listen by clicking the image below for stunning scenery to accompany the music:

Chorus: Air fàir an là o ho-o
(On the rise of the day, o ho-o)
Hao ri rì o ho
(Sounds used for rhythm and melody)
E ho hiri iù o ho
(Melodic sound)

Verse 1:
Siuth’daibh, siuth’daibh, a mhnathan
(Hurry up, hurry up, women)

Verse 2:
Luadhaibh athaiseach leam
(Chant it joyfully with me)

Verse 3:
Ma thèid mi air m’ adhart
(If I move forward)

Verse 4:
Nì mi tadhal san Dùn
(I will visit the fort)

Verse 5:
Far ‘eil Ruairidh mac Iain
(Where is Ruairidh, son of Iain?)

Verse 6:
Mac athar mo rùn
(Son of my father's love)

Verse 7:
Sinn an-seo nar ceathrar
(Here we are, four of us)

Verse 8:
Chuireadh a’ bhirlinn air stiùir
(Set the birlinn (galley) on course)

Verse 9:
’S e gheibh sinn an coite
(It is we who will get the boat)

Verse 10:
’S i bu choltaiche rinn
(It most resembles us)

Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!