The Sheep Under the Snow

Words by W. H. GILL

Air, 'Ny Kirree fo Niaghtey'

The snow's on the mountains, the snow's in the gill;

My sheep they have wander'd all over the hill;

Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go

Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow.

The dogs in the haggard are barking aloud

At the moon, as she struggles from under the cloud;

Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go

Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow.

Take staves and take lanterns, put on your *carranes;

We'll hunt in the mountains; we'll hunt in the plains;

Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go

Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow.

Then up rose those shepherds; with haste they did go

Where my sheep lay all buried deep under the snow;

They sought them with sorrow; they sought them with dread,

And they found them at last, but the sheep were all dead.

*In the old days, and indeed down to our own time, the shoe worn by the Manxman was called a carrane. The carrane was a sort of rugged slipper, made of untanned leather with the nap on it, and shaped with a long, pointed toe.

This version can be found in Manx National Songs (first published 1896)

which also contains their version of the Manx Gaelic song "Ny Kirree Fo 'Niaghtey" (mis-spelt as Naghtey), and subtitled "The Sheep 'neath the Snow". In the English version, it's generally called "The Sheep Under the Snow".

*Recorderd by Robin Williamson as a very haunting Instrumental Air.

Also a wonderful rendition was recorded on block flute by Emma Christian on her debut album Ta'N Dooid Cheet/ Beneath the Twilight (Manx/Celtic Productions PO Box 4475 London, UK SW19 5XD TEL:0181 946 9772)

http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/w/williamson_robin.html

Traditional Music on the Isle of Man

SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING IN THE ISLE OF MAN

"Gow magh dy lhonie as trooid thie dy mollagh, lesk yn eayn bwoirrin as yn coamrey sonney"

(" Go out bare and come home rough, with the she-lamb and the plentiful covering ").

No part of this website may be used for any purpose ( including using images )

without written consent from The Rams Horn

Art Renewal Center

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Folk Music Index Shepherds Songbook SHEEP SHEARING Sheep Jewelry THE SHEPHERD'S DOG Bookstore	HOME \| home Ca' the Ewes to The Knowes \| Queen Among The Heather \| The Broom of Cowdenknowes \| Bonny May \| Searching for Lambs \| Heather Down the Moor \| The Shepherd's Wife \| Tarry Wool \| Stormy Winds \| Shepherd of the Downs \| The Sheep-Shearing Song \| The Sheep Shearing \| Rosebud in June \| Lincolnshire Shepherd \| Sheep Shearin \| Drink Boys, Drink \| Darby Ram \| Ewie wi' the Crookit Horn \| Master of the Sheepfold \| The Sheep Under the Snow \| The Weary Pund O' Tow \| Sheep Crook and Black Dog \| The Shearing's Nae For You \| Band of Shearers \| Twanky Dillo \| The Shepherd Lad O' Rhynie \| Laird o' Drum \| Blind Shepherd \| Canny Shepherd Laddie \| Road to the Isles \| Tip O' Derwent
	The Sheep Under the Snow Words by W. H. GILL Air, 'Ny Kirree fo Niaghtey' The snow's on the mountains, the snow's in the gill; My sheep they have wander'd all over the hill; Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow. The dogs in the haggard are barking aloud At the moon, as she struggles from under the cloud; Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow. *Take staves and take lanterns, put on your carranes; We'll hunt in the mountains; we'll hunt in the plains; Uprise then, my shepherds, with haste let us go Where my sheep are all buried deep under the snow. Then up rose those shepherds; with haste they did go Where my sheep lay all buried deep under the snow; They sought them with sorrow; they sought them with dread, And they found them at last, but the sheep were all dead.** In the old days, and indeed down to our own time, the shoe worn by the Manxman was called a carrane. The carrane was a sort of rugged slipper, made of untanned leather with the nap on it, and shaped with a long, pointed toe. This version* can be found in Manx National Songs (first published 1896) which also contains their version of the Manx Gaelic song "Ny Kirree Fo 'Niaghtey" (mis-spelt as Naghtey), and subtitled "The Sheep 'neath the Snow". In the English version, it's generally called "The Sheep Under the Snow". Recorderd by Robin Williamson as a very haunting Instrumental Air. Also a wonderful rendition was recorded on block flute by Emma Christian on her debut album Ta'N Dooid Cheet/ Beneath the Twilight (Manx/Celtic Productions PO Box 4475 London, UK SW19 5XD TEL:0181 946 9772) http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/w/williamson_robin.html* Traditional Music on the Isle of Man SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING IN THE ISLE OF MAN "Gow magh dy lhonie as trooid thie dy mollagh, lesk yn eayn bwoirrin as yn coamrey sonney" (" Go out bare and come home rough, with the she-lamb and the plentiful covering "). copyright 2002 , Jim & Beth Boyle, All Rights Reserved No part of this website may be used for any purpose ( including using images ) without written consent from The Rams Horn Art Renewal Center NEXT SONG