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Proofreading requested
Original lyrics
Barcelona
Thàinig sinn an diugh nar n’aineolas ruisgt’
Lorg na h-eaglais le na h-aghaidhean neo-chiùin
Prìomh-bhreith, a’ Ghlòir ’s am Fulangas - na triùir
’Dha bharail treun, nur taigh-cogaidh na mùirn.
Fàgaibh e na bhlaigh no togaibh e gu h-àrd
Gach barail bhuadhach uaibhreach ach cuideachd truagh is caillt’
A’ fàs ann an eachdraidh ainmeil is ghrannd
Mar dh’innis am bàrd na sgeul, na òran ’s na dhàn.
Chunnaic sinn Barcelona
’S dh’aithnich sinn Barcelona
Dà mhìle bliadhna air bhur rathad neo-rèidh
Thuit sibh le gach slait, ach ghabh sibh ’n dara ceum.
Dh’èisd sinn a-rithist ri òran mòr an t-sluaigh
’S bha sinn eòlach air na faclan an Alba, a luaidh.
Bàrdachd a’ gul le faram binn nan cruaidh
O dhùthaich threun! - beannachd do ur n-anam is buaidh.
Chunnaic sinn Barcelona
’S dh’aithnich sinn Barcelona
Dà mhìle bliadhna air bhur rathad neo-rèidh
Thuit sibh le gach slait, ach ghabh sibh ’n dara ceum.
Chunnaic sinn Barcelona
’S dh’aithnich sinn Barcelona
Dà mhìle bliadhna air bhur rathad neo-rèidh
Thuit sibh le gach slait, ach ghabh sibh ’n dara ceum.
Submitted by 
michealt on 2015-09-03
michealt on 2015-09-03Translation
Barcelona
We came today, exposed in our ignorance,
To search for the church with the disturbing facades
The Nativity, the Glory and the Passion, all three
Two strong [opposed] views in your war-house of love1.
Leave it half-done or raise it up high
Each view victorious and proud, yet also abject and lost,
Growing in history, famous and ugly
As the bard2 told in his story, in his song and in his poem.
We saw Barcelona
and we were affected by Barcelona
For two thousand years on your uneven road
Every yard you fell, but you took another step.
Again we listened to the people's great song
And we had heard those words in Scotland, my dear
Poetry weeping with the shrill clashing of arms
Oh brave country! - a blessing and success to your spirit3
We saw Barcelona
and we were affected by Barcelona
For two thousand years on your uneven road
Every yard you fell, but you took another step.
We saw Barcelona
and we were affected by Barcelona
For two thousand years on your uneven road
Every yard you fell, but you took another step.
- 1. I think (I'm fairly certain) she means the still unfinished church designed by Gaudi, La Sagrada Familia
- 2. I've no idea what this refers to
- 3. This verse may make you think of Catalan nationalism and its similarity to Scottish nationalism. Singing anything like it would probably have resulted in severe penalties in Franco's time, and even severer ones in Scotland between 1292 and and 1308 or between 1716 and 1780
The author of translation requested proofreading.
It means that he/she will be happy to receive corrections, suggestions etc about the translation.
If you are proficient in both languages of the language pair, you are welcome to leave your comments.
It means that he/she will be happy to receive corrections, suggestions etc about the translation.
If you are proficient in both languages of the language pair, you are welcome to leave your comments.
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Comments
maluca Russia is waging a disgraceful war on Ukraine. Stand With Ukraine!
About translator
Song written by Eilidh NicCoinnich (or Eilidh MacKenzie, since the bureaucrats sometimes insist on "translating" Gaelic names to English) some time in or before 1994.
I'm told it was written for a music festival in Barcelona and sung there by the group (Mac-talla) of which she was a member.