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The Barge of Gorrie Cròvan is a song about the passage of the royal galley from the Isle of Man to the Isle of Islay in 1095. The song was collected by Duncan Johnstone and published by him in Part One of 'Cronan nan Tonn' in 1938.

The following are the lyrics to this recording:

Hóbhan na hóbhan hó, hi horó na hùbhan,
Hóbhan na hóbhan hó, Air Birlinn Ghoraidh Chrobhain

Fichead sonn air cùl nan ràmh,
Fichead buille lùghmhor,
Siùbhlaidh ì mar eun a' snàmh,
Is sìoban thonn 'ga sgiùrsadh.

Suas i sheòid air bàrr nan tonn !
Sìos gu ìochdar sùigh i !
Suas an ceòl is togaibh fonn,
Tha Mac an Righ 'ga stiuireadh !

Dh' fhàg sinn Manainn mòr nan tòrr,
Eireann a' tighinn dlùth dhuinn,
Air Ile-an-Fheòir tha sinn an tòir
Ged dh' èireas tonnan dùbh-ghorm.


Translation:

Hóvan, na hóvan ho,
Hee horó, na hóvan,
Hóvan, na hóvan ho
The barge of Gorrie Cróvan

Behind the oars, a score so brave,
A lusty score to row her,
She sails away like bird on wave,
While foaming seas lash o'er her.

Up she goes on ocean wave !
Down the surge she wails O,
Sing away; the chorus, raise,
A royal prince; he sails her !

The towers of Man we leave away,
Old Erin's hills we hail O,
On Islay's shore her course we lay
Though billows roar and rave O.

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