Ailein duinn or Dark haired Alan’ is a lament composed for Ailean Moireasdan (Alan Morrison) by his fiancee Annag Chaimbeul (Annie Campbell). In 1788, Ailean, a sailor, went out to sea on board of his ship, heading to Scalpay, Harris, were he and Anag were to be married. In a tragic course of events the sailboat encountered a storm. There were no survivors. Annag lost her will to live ad died shortly afterwards. They found her body on the beach, close to the place where her fiance’s body was stranded. Before her death she wrote this lament
Gura mise tha fo éislean
Moch sa mhaduinn is mi g’éirigh
Sèist: Ò hì shiùbhlainn leat
Hì ri bhò hò ru bhì
Hì ri bhò hò rinn o ho
Ailein Duinn, ò hì shiùbhlainn leat
Ma ’s e ‘n cluasag dhuit a ghaineamh
Ma ’s e leabaidh dhut an gheamainn
Ma ’s e ‘n t-iasg do choinlean geala
Ma ’s e na ròin do luchd-faire
Dh’òlainn deoch ge b’ oil le càch e
De dh’fhuil do choim ’s tu ‘n déidh do bhathadh
(The version used in Rob Roy movie)
Lyrics: Annag Chaimbeul, music: traditional