Cha b'e sneachda 's an reothadh ò thuath
It wasn't the snow of frost from the north
Cha b'e 'n crannadh geur fuar ò 'n ear
It wasn't the cold snap from the east
Cha b'e 'n t-uisge 's gaillionn ò 'n iar
It wasn't the rain or gale from the west
Ach an galar a bhlian ò 'n deas
But the disease which has blanched from the south
Blàth, duileach, stoc agus freumh
The blossom, foliage, stem and roots
Cànan mo threubh 's mo shluagh
Of the language of my race and people Thig thugainn, thig cò' ruinn gu siar
Come along and join us in the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal
So that we will hear the language of the Gael
Thig thugainn, thig cò' ruinn gu siar
Come along and join us in the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal
So that we will hear the language of the Gael Bheir anuas dhuinn na coinnleirean òr
Fetch down the golden chandeliers'
S ann annt càraibh na coinnlean geal cèir
And set the white wax candles in them
Lasaibh suas iad an seòmar a' bhròin
Light them up in the chamber of sorrow
Taigh aire seann chànan a' Ghàidheil
The wake house of the old Gaelic language'
Se siud ò chionn fhad' thuirt an nàmh
That's what the enemy said a long time ago
Ach fhathast tha beò Cànan nan Gàidheal
But the Gaelic language still lives Ged theich i le beath' às na glinn
Although she has retreated from the glens
Ged 's gann an diugh chluinnear i nas mò
Though one hears her so seldom now
O Dhùthaich Mhic Aoidh fada tuath
From the Mackay far in the north
Gu ruig thu Druim Uachdar nam bò
Down to Drumochter of the cattle
Gidheadh, dhith na h-Eileanan Siar
But even so, we need to have the sword and shield
Biodh claidheamh is sgiath ud 'n ur dòrn
In our fists in the Western Isles Ged nach cluinnear anis i 'san dùn
Although it is no longer heard in the castle
No 'n talla nan cliar is nan corn
Nor in the hall of bards and drinking cups
Ged tha meòir Chloinn 'ic Criomain gun lùths
Though the fingers of the Mac
Crimmons lie without strength
O 'n tric fheasgar ciùin dhòirteadh ceòl
Which once played such splendid music of an evening
Gidheadh, anns ha h-Eileanan Siar
She's even under threat in the Isles'
S i fhathast ann, ciad chàinnt an t-slòigh