Brona created Bodach from a Scots Gaelic nursery rhyme which she found on a festive album recorded by Scottish singer Fiona Mackenzie. She put the words to a different tune; the Irish jig Kitty Lie Over. Her harmony arrangement was recorded by her singing group Rún on their 2011 album Sé: Songs from the Six Celtic Nations as Rinn Sinn Bodach Sneachd An Diugh (We Made a Snowman Today). Brona also recorded Bodach on her Festive Folk Songs EP.
Choir singing (Monday 20th November 2017)
WORDS
Bodach mòr le sùilean dubh
Bodach mòr le sùilean dubh
Bodach mòr le sùilean dubh
Bodach reamhar sneachda.
Curfa:
Rinn sinn bodach sneachd’ an-diugh
Rinn sinn bodach sneachd’ an-diugh
Rinn sinn bodach sneachd’ an-diugh
Bodach reamhar sneachda.
Stoc mu amhaich ‘s ad mu cheann
Stoc mu amhaich ‘s ad mu cheann
Stoc mu amhaich ‘s ad mu cheann
Bodach reamhar sneachda.
Bodach bochd le casan fuar
Bodach bochd le casan fuar
Bodach bochd le casan fuar
Bodach reamhar sneachda.
Translation:
V1 – A big old man with black eyes (x3) / A fat old man of snow
Chorus – We made a snowman today (x3) / A fat old man of snow
V2 – A scarf round neck and hat round head (x3) / A fat old man of snow V3 – Poor old man with cold feet (x3) / A fat old man of snow