Cutting Ferns is also known as "Buain na Rainich" or “The Bracken Highland Fling” or “Cutting Bracken” or “Faery’s Lament” or rThe Weary Maid”. Similarities have been found with the jig “Drummond Castle” and Alan Stivell’s air “Tha Mi Sgith.”
Ferns were employed for a number of uses in times past. They were used as litter for cattle and as a makeshift pallet for sleeping, they could be a compound for manure or for covering corn stacks. In some places ferns were used in thatching of cottage roofs, and could be burned to render an alkali mixture used in bleaching.
Collecting ferns was traditionally women’s work, often carried out by young women.
It was not an easy task, for once harvested, great bales would then have to be carried home.
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The song that accompanies the tune (which can also be sung to “The Broom of Cowden Yowes”) tells on one young lass who went out to cut fern or bracken, and fell in love with one of the Sidhe, or fairy folk. He reciprocated, but when her family discovered the fact and fearing the danger in such a liaison, they kept her to home. The song is sung by the fairy, who is broken-hearted.
I am tired, and I am alone, Cutting the Bracken, Cutting the bracken I am tired, and I am alone, Cutting the Bracken forever
Behind the knoll, up on the knoll,
Why should I sit and sigh,
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Je suis fatiguée et seule Fauchant les fougères Je suis fatiguée et seule Fauchant les fougères à tout jamais
Derrière la butte, sur la butte
Pourquoi dois-je m’asseoir et soupirer
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Tha mi sgìth ’s mi leam fhìn, Buain na rainich, buain na rainich Tha mi sgìth ’s mi leam fhìn, Buain na rainich daonnan
Cùl an tomain, bràigh an tomain
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San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers
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Mandolin Version
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