'S mi ri imeachd nam aonar
anns an òg-mhadaim Mhàigh
Feadh lèantaichean uaine
mar fhear-fuadain gun stàth,
Nuair a chunnaic mi a' ghruagach
an taobh shuas dhiom a' tàmh
'S i ri nigh' a cuid aodaich
mach air aodann Srath Bhàin.

An sin dhìrich mi suas far 'n robh
gruagach mo ghràidh
Is labhair mi rithe gu sìobhalta tlàth,
"Tha bliadhn' agus còrr bhon a thòisich an gràdh,
Is ma bhitheas tu deònach
nì sinn pòsadh gun dàil."

"Gu pòsadh, gu pòsadh ro òg tha mi 'n dràsd'.
Gu bheil teang' aig do sheòrsa
dhèanadh fògradh 's gach àit;
Gum biodh m'athair 's mo mhàthair
gam chàineadh gu bràth
Nam pòsainn do leithid, O fhleasgaich gun stàth."

Ach a nìonagan òga tha gun phòsadh 's gach àit,
Na diùltaibh fir òga le mòrchuis no tàir.
Nach muladach dhòmhsa
bhith gun phòsadh gu bràth
'S fheudar fuireach nam aonar
mach air aodann Srath Bhàin.

As I walked alone on a morning in May
Among the green fields on my sad, lonely way
I saw a young woman who lived a ways on
As she did her wash on the face of Strath Bàn.

I climbed up the hill to my love waiting there
And to her I spoke with politeness and care,
"It's more than a year that we've courted this way,
So if you will, we'll marry with no more delay."

"To marry, to marry, I'm too young right now
Your kind causes trouble with talk anyhow
My father and mother would scorn me for life
You fickle young fellow, if I were your wife."

To all you young women, unmarried and sweet
Don't turn down young men out of pride or conceit
How sad that my one chance to marry is gone
I'll live all alone on the face of Strath Bàn.

words and music Traditional
English translation by Lisa Theriot