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Cungaidhean Leighis

by Corvid, K-Rec

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1.
Rò-radh 01:46
2.
Tha mi cha mhòr a caill mo ghuth ach 'sa Ghàidhlig àmhain tha mi nam aonaranach 'san uaimh le m' thaic faisg air làimh 'S cho falaichte nan dorchadas gun choinneal gun t-sòlais ach pàipear, ite nan fhithich 's m' eòlas , tha droch-shluagh nan Chrombail, air m' ionnsaidh fad an t-saoghal ach bidh tuaithean nan ard-Ghàidheil nam thaiceil mar is dual mar is còir leis na h-Èireannaich bho rìgh-chathair gu chumhail eisgear gu tuathanaich pèiste gu mhanaich mhaoil chan eil geas orm no piseòg ach feumaidh mi greasad orm a' sgrìobhadh fad na h-oidhche litreach beag, duilleag làn bhon thùs, mus tig ar slànuighear bha daoine ann cho dàna nach robh iad nan Crìosdaidhean ach bha iad fhathast airidh 's luachmhor 'son aithne air cliùiteach's ainmeil ar sinnsirean glòrmhor, brosnachail coibhneil air a' thoiseach gu grinnmhor a' sàbaid cho fuilteach a’ caill cho brònach no 'g buadhach gu buileach SÈIST FORAS FEASA NA H-ÈIREANN STÉIDH EÒLAIS ÈIREANNAICH AIR A SGRÌOBHADH LE CLÈIRICH SAN UAIMH FHALAICHTE NUAIR A BHA AN CROMAILAICH A LORG A H-UILE SAOI AIRSON A MHARBHADH AIR SGÀTH'S AN EUDACHD AIR AR SLIGHE Bho shìol Eireamhain, gu ard-shlighe Bhriain an Rìgh a' cur fògradh air an Gallaibh leis a shabaid 's strì air am marbhadh as deidh CluanTarbh bho làimh a' nàmhaid 's Tuirgeis, a' cuir a' bhean na suidhe air an altair eaglais mhòr Ard Mhacha airson faidheadaireachd, a thoirt ri na Lochlannaich 's Èirinn fo smachd ach fo Dhia cuideachd brònach 's tuirseach le toll gort nar cridhean ach dòchasach airson ar saoirse bhuannachadh Gàidheil 's Cruithnich bho pàiste beag gu saoi cailleag gu laochan cruaidh mallachdan air an t-sluaigh a bhios nar n-aghaidh, cho luaithe leis a bhrèith mar aingeal Dhè a' cuir dìol air an t-saoghal Maelseachlainn, a cheann mhaol a' milleadh bho Chuige Uladh gu Laighin san taobh dheas a' dòrtadh mòran fhuil a dhroch-sgeul cho truaighe chan fhaca a' choltas riamh ach bidh e buileach nas miosa ann an àm sa tighinn! SÈIST Ogigia, Èireamhain Partholon, Nèimheadh Fenius Farsaidh, gu àm a' Chlann Mìleadh Labhraidh Loingseach leis a' chluasan mar asail Daithí, Rìgh Chonnacht air a dhàn fhèin thaisgeal air a losgadh san Eilbheis air a' chladach Loch Ghenève fhaighinn a dhroch-bhrèith bho fìor dhealain Dhè agus os cionn cach Naomh Calum Cille caomh a' seasamh mar laochan no mar fitheach air a' chraobh a' chomhairle ri Bruide àrd Rìgh nan Cruithneach 's Brochan bochd a' dhraoidh leis a thràilleag Ultach cha robh faobhar stàilinn a chaoidh cho geur mar inntinn naomh am fir neartach maol ainm bàisteach Criomthann O'Cúinn an t-soisgeul air a ghiùlan beannachd air na truaillean fad 's farsaing Cruithean-Tuaith am manach craicte ruadh a' chànan cho luath cha b' urrainn dhan t-sluagh a bhi gu buileach ga thuigsinn ach bha iad fhathast air am buainn
3.
Cù Uladh 05:15
Mar a thuirt iad: "A Chù Chulainn, chan eil feusag air d' aodann Dè tha thu a' smaointinn a bhi cho dàna ri laochain? Tha thu saoitheamh, a ghille chaoimh 'S tha do namhaid air do chùlaibh A' Mhorrigan 's a' Bhadhbh 'S thusa cho fhada bho naomh" (Cù Chulainn) "Dè tharraing thusa às do bheul? A bheil thu as do chiall? Cha robh sinn roimhe fo smachd, 'S cha bhi sinn gu bràth nar triall! 'S e bràthair mo mhàthair An Rìgh, ainm Conchobhar, 'S 's e athair an draoidh Cathbhadh 'S tha e air mo bheannachadh Tha Banrìghinn bòstach a' tighinn airson ar creachadh 's toradh An Donn Cuailgne a ghòid 'S ar dream a mharbhadh Tha mi air mo sharachadh, leis an amaideachd seo, ma tha tha sibh eòlach orm-sa thallaibh a-mach às mo rathad! (arsa Laoch) "A thighearna chaoimh, air do shocair 's na gabh dragh tha do charbadan deiseil airson ar nàimhdean a mhilleadh 's an cinn a bhuain am mionnaich a sprùilleadh eanchainn a phronnadh ann am beagan bhuille Feuch! Tha creachadh's toradh a' feitheamh airson ar teachd 's leam-sa, gad fhrithealadh, cha chreid mi nach cuir sinn ri làimh, 'S nuair am faigh sinn làimh an uachdar, air an sluagh seo cho lùthmhor bidh duais ort cho luachmhor... Eimher Bhàn 's a gràdh ort. " (Cù Chulainn) ('s ars am fear...) Na can còrr! 's cum sùil air an rathad tha sinn 'g itealaich thar a' mhachair 's bidh sinn ann.. Thoir an aire! bha e faisg! O, a ghaisgich òig sin e am fìor bheatha ag ionnsachadh ar buaidhean 's ar nàimh ag faobhar a' chlaidheamh tha ar nàbaidhean nar nàimhdean cho fhad's a bhi iad gràineil 's bidh mì-rùn mòr nan Gall mar dìleab air an cloinne 'S e Cruithnich a th' annainn Fireannaich nam fìor-Ulaidh Boireannaich bòidhche's cruaidhe pàistean dàna's luaithe laochain cho biorach 's geur mar inntinn nan draoidh ar sinnsirean caomh a' toirt seanchas ris na saoidhean co-dhiù cha chreid mi nach eil sinn air beulaibh chinn armailt Mhedhbh tha an t-àm ann an-dràsta ma bhios ruadh 'sa chraoibh! SÈIST Dè tharraing thusa às do bheul? A bheil thu as do chiall? Cha robh sinn roimhe fo smachd, 'S cha bhi sinn gu bràth nar tràill! 'S e bràthair mo mhàthair An Rìgh, ainm Conchobhar, 'S 's e athair an draoidh Cathbhadh 'S tha e air mo bheannachadh (Luchd-Chàinidhean) "A Mhac Shualdaim tha thu ann airson a thoirt seachad a' bhlàr, chogadh, shabaid an aghaidh ar tàin 's creachadh ach, cò thusa san fhìrinn? nach eil thu nad dhìlleachdan? air daltadh le Sualdaim airson onair a' bhanrìghinn? tha beul-aithris a' tighinn bho gach clachan fo ghrian gu bheil do mhàthair ro chridheil air gach coigrich 's dìlleach..." (Cù Chulainn) "Ach, feuch a-nis, tha mi an seo 's rinn mi an gnothach ort do cheann air a chailleadh 's mo shleagh tro do chorp! 'S, ma tha uidh agad fhathast a bhi eòlach air mo dhream tha m' athair na sheanndhia 's e Lugh Saimhildànach ainm! SÈIST (Luchd-Chàinidhean) "Carson a tha do shluagh ri fois a ghabhail, tùrsach 's brònach leis a' chràdh cho goirt ann am muineal? nach robh sibh cho cruaidh a bhi an aghaidh ar sluaigh ach a-nis, a' chràdh thruaighe am bidh sibh a' gluiseachd? cha bhi! chuala sinn, bho beul-aithris gu bheil sibh fo mhallachd as-dèidh fharpais charbadan far an do chaill sibh ris a' bhan-dia Mhacha air sgàth's gun robh 'n duine aice ag ràdh, gu bheil a' bhean nas luaithe a casan chleachdadh nan sgioba mòr eachaibh na Rìgh Conchobhar creachadh nuair a bha Cruinniuc na mhisg, bha teanga'n amadain theachd! 's mar a bha e a' gàireachdainn cha robh 'n Rìgh a' faireachdainn tròcair sam bith air a' dhearg amadan (Conchobhar) ' s thuirt e "thallaibh a-mach 's rannsachaibh a' ghleann 's thoir dhomh am boirionnach" (Cruinniuc) "ach tha i trom le leanaibh! guidheam ort a thighearna mhòr tha an droch-nàire orm faodaidh sibh mi 'cur gu bàs ach leigeabh mo bhean a bhith saor tha dà phàiste na bronn 's iad fo gheasa cho trom bidh do shlighe a' cromadh leis a' phiann cho brònach nuair a bhios sibh nur n-èiginn bidh cràdh oirbh gun teagamh bidh ur cloinne gur faicinn gun neart sam bith agaibh bidh ur creach sa thàinig aig an t-àm as miosa nuair am bidh sibh air ruighinn an àite fo gheasa Ars a' rìgh: (Conchobhar) "Dùn do dhroch-bheul an-dràsta agus thall amach! Cuiridh mi thusa gu bàs, a bheil thu craicte?! Nach eil thu eòlach ormsa? Amadain gòrach, seo làimh an Rìgh, a cuir mallachd ortsa! A bhalgair bhoirb, a chealgair uaibhrich bidh dàn ainmeil air do cheann cho truaillich do mhionnaich a sprùilleadh eanchainn a phronnadh ann am beagan bhuille airson cluicheadh a' bhaotharan ach cò thusa san fhìrinn agus do dhroch-bhean? smaoinich thu gum b' i ban-dia a bh' innte?" o mo chreach!" SÈIST
4.
Tha naidheachd bho Alba 'S chan urrainn dhuinn a bhi coma a Thighearna cho dàna am b' urrainn dhomh a bhi calma? le mo fhreagairt ri Phàrlamaid mu dheidhinn ar ro-innleachdan airson a bhi dìcheallach 's diadhach ler inntinnean ach tha mi aindeònach am facal a ràdh, oir nuair a bhios sibh air an t-ainm a' ràdh , thig e a-steach 's bidh an deamhan as miosa am fear le mhnaoi fo smachd a' ghabhail tlachd bho a h-aire 's a cleachdadh bhuidseachd SÈIST CHAN ANN DO SHÌOL ADHAMH SINN 'S CHAN E ABRAHAM AR N-ATHAIR ACH THA SINN DE MHUINNTIR 'N ATHAIR UAIBHRICH CHAIDH FHUADACH AS A FHLAITHEAS Gheibh Baobh a guidhe ged nach fhaigh a h-anam tròcair ìobairtean loisgte 's an Riabhach air a shocair cho creachadh, 's dòcha Gum bi 'n t-eagal a thogail Teine mòr nach bu chòir Duine sam bith a rostadh Leis an cridhean cho reòite No mar pìos beag mòine Air a losgadh leis an teasachadh An eudachd a' sroiceadh Aodainn òga lan bòidhchead Ach a-nis grannda, dorcha Le crannchur an t-saoghal bhochd A' tionndadh mar cuithle rothair 'S e gairm an t-sluagh 'S cha mhòr gum bhodhradh an fhuaim Ag iarraidh bana-bhuidsich Airson dòrtadh a fuil Cho doirbh a tilleadh Ri sàbhachas as dèidh sin Bidh sibh fiadhach le fearg 'S feargach gun thuigsinn Tha Rìgh Seumas a' chomhairle Ri luchd-chomhairlich droch-inntinnich A chàirdean ri a bhrosnachadh Gun dòighean gun tàmh no sìth 'S chan e doirbh a chì Chan eil ar Dia le rìgh, Cho gun nàire, Chan eil dùbhlan sam bith, air a shlighe… SÈIST Tha an Rìgh air a chuir roimhe Gum bidh èigheachd air dòighean gus dearbhadh deimhinnte 'S i bana-bhuidseach nam boireannach Le acfhuinn oillteach iaruinn, sgoltadh Geur 's spìocach 'S dìreach gun tròcair Airson adhbhar mì-mhòiteil Gun cead bhon t-soisgeul An canar gum biodh sinn Nas diadhaiche nan Abstoil? No mar dheamhan dhamaichte Freumhan adhbharachadh Crìonadh sòisealta, 'S ar breugan a' brùidealachd Am Bìoball a' tionndadh Ri leabhar neo-shunndach Eadar-theangachadh cliùteach Làn buidseachd 's draoidheachd Gann de cheartas 's dùthchas Sa Bheurla ghrannda 's bhrùideil Mar cuing air am muineal Daimh ghòraich slaodaich Dìreach as-deidh an caochladh Sprèidh cho tursach Bidh dàn eu-dòchasach 'S am breitheanas mhurt An tèid sinn chùirte? Ri taobh tuaitheil gun fheum gun bheartas Nar aonaranaich Chaidh fhuadach a fhlaitheas?
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about

This EP is the result of a long and painful process...
By this I don't mean learning Gaelic of course, as this was, is, and will always be one of the great and untarnished joys of my life. I am talking about the painful process of abdominal hernia, which I received while defending my wife and dog from a pit bull,which I lifted and threw bodily about ten feet away from us (to no harm whatsoever to the dog...).
During the first two weeks of bedridden boredom I wrote the first draft of Cù Uladh, which I sent to my friend and mentor Padraig MacAoidh for proofreading (ceud taing airson do chuideachadh a charaid!). The other tracks and translations slowly emerged over the next six months, and the recording process was interspersed with hernia surgery, family tragedy, and general life stresses, all of which inspired the title of the project. ''Cungaidhean Leighis'' roughly translates to English as ''medication'', but is perhaps better rendered by the Latin equivalent ''materia medica'', as in the ''materials of healing''. I firmly believe that the Gaelic language is imbued with healing - just as the act of learning a new language has benefits to cognitive function, the learning of one's ancestors' language has been show to have real health benefits in other endangered language communities.

I had the idea of writing Gaelic rap tracks about specific characters and events in history and mythology as a way to express the richness of seanchas, a source of lore to rival any tradition on earth, a wellspring of hope and inspiration to the children of the Gael and to all of the human family equally. The Gaelic language has always been a vehicle for transmitting deep cultural knowledge, hard won through generations of bitter experience, so why not use Hip Hop as a medium to bring this wisdom into the present? I have practiced the art of MCing for some time now, and the challenge of writing in Gaelic has preoccupied me for the last 5 years. It has been pleasantly met with the realization that Gaelic is ideally suited to the Bardic art, of course, and that complex rhyme schemes and brilliant runs of alliteration are actually easier than in English. To that end, the English translations came much later, and while faithful to the cadence and content of the original Gaelic, are also poetic works in their own right...with a few easter eggs that only the Gaels will get! I figured it would be easier for people to hear the same track in both tongues rather than read a dry translation. Sin mar a tha e.

I will say right now that I am not and will never be a native speaker, that I am only a diligent learner. There are mistakes galore in my words and my blas. I admit that I have warped Gaelic to my own ends, and my only excuse is that I am constantly learning and open to feedback. That being said, please hear this work as art first and foremost. Do not send me a detailed list of my errors and expect me to re-record. As a student of all Celtic languages I am the master of none.

I draw great inspiration from the life and work of the Irish poet Seán O'Riordáin - also an adult learner, whose bold experiments in Modern Irish were censured by many, but which earned him the moniker of ''the Gaelic James Joyce'', Joyce himself being another great hero of mine. And by the way, have you heard what rap actually sounds like now? English is mangled and twisted a million different ways every day. As distant as any form of Common Gaelic may be to the many and diverse communities of native speakers, I hold to the essential unity of all the Gaelic languages, and the deeper unity of all Celtic tongues. In future I hope to re-record some of these tracks in Irish and Welsh too, but all in good time. Hopefully my work is at least as interesting as the spirals on a Pictish stone, the gravelly obscurity of a distant and lost cousin, whose dialect is only as unintelligible as the journey of many thousands of miles would make it...

Tha mi 'n dòchas gun còrdaidh e ruibh,
Mar sin leibh an-dràsda,
Corvid.

credits

released June 12, 2017

CORVID AKA Dàibhidh MacGhilleChaluim - faclan, guth, giotar/
words, voice, guitar

DJ K-REC AKA Kent Stephany - beats, scratches, production/
gach rud eile

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about

Corvid Vancouver, British Columbia

An avid student of Celtic music and culture since birth, David James McCallum has hitch-hiked coast to coast and to the Yukon and back (twice). The son of a long line of gifted singers, poets, preachers and scholars, Corvid has honed his lyrical craft over two decades of travel and study. A proud father, and medicinal cannabis provider, Corvid currently resides in East Van. ... more

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