ARTICLES

A' Fighe le Feur (Knitting Grass)

When we were children Eilidh, Fiona and Gillian would often come across the Minch from Lewis to Lochinver. We would have a great ceilidh that would last several days. Since then they have become reknown on TV and radio for their harmonies, port-a-bheils, etc, . They asked to use one of my paintings for a CD they were making ( Camhanach). They sent me a copy of the CD and that was when I first heard of Angus McPhee. I heard the song many times before seeing any of his work. Eventually at the Belleview Gallery in Edinburgh , Calum was curating a show of "Outsider Art", and this was where I saw the grass pieces.

Angus MacPhee from Iochdar, South Uist spent most of his adult life as a patient in Craig Dunain Hospital, Inverness. most of his time there was spent knitting grass to make objects now recognised as works of art. This song was inspired by his unusual story.

A'FIGHE LE FEUR

Buachaille o-ro, buachaille o Hi-ri-ri o hi u a hu a ho-ro Buachaille o-ro, buachaille o Hi-ri-ri o hi u a hu a ho-ro Fuaim as neonaiche na cuala sibhse
riamh?Aonghas Mac-a-Phi a' fighe le feur. Figh na lion 's glac run diamhair Aonghais Mhic-a-Phi a' fighe le feur. Le bioran 'fas nas maoil' is d'inntinn 'fas nas geur' Aonghais Mhic-a-Phi a' fighe le feur. Sealladh as boidhche na chunna sibhse riamh? Aonghas Mac-a-Phi a' fighe le feur.

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(English translation) KNITTING GRASS Have you ever heard a stranger sound than Angus MacPhee knitting with grass? Weave the web and trap your secret purpuse O Angus MacPhee knitting with grass. with your needles growing blunter and your mind growing sharper O Angus MacPhee knitting with grass. Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight than Angus MacPhee knitting with grass.

(Music: Fiona MacKenzie; Words: Eilidh MacKenzie & Fiona MacKenzie)

"Shedrach Messach & Abedegno" - the Camhanach CD cover