Calling England: A Long Time Passing

Saturday, November 07, 2009

A Long Time Passing

8 comments:

Witterings From Witney said...: GV,

Thanks for that. As an Englishman, this never fails to bring a tear to my eye. In 2006/7 I did two trips on a yacht touring distilleries in Oban, Skye and Isla and in Oban the distillery always had a band play this. Hearing it by the bagpipes and drums is truly amazing.; November 07, 2009
scunnert said...: She was a flower indeed. Nobody under fifty knows who she was anymore.; November 07, 2009
Harry Hook said...: Better at the beginning, unaccompanied!

At funerals, you have to be careful with this tune/anthem/song on the GHB as it can cause some mourners to be overcome with grief.; November 08, 2009
Goodnight Vienna said...: It is lovely. I used to think it was an old song - was surprised to find it's only about fifty/sixty yrs old.; November 08, 2009
Harry Hook said...: Aye... it was written by Roy Williamson of The Corries and first performed in 1967. Talking of anthems... I have never been requested to play Amazing Grace by a Scot, as they have a special aversion to, like putting ice cubes in scotch, hymns on the pipes. It's an Irish, North American thing. Legend has it, that if the original RSDG recording had not made so much money, the Pipe Major would have been found lifeless at the bottom of the Clyde. The other popular ceremonial anthem "Highland Cathedral" was written by a couple of Germans... which is par for the course.; November 08, 2009
Goodnight Vienna said...: I didn't know you were Scottish, Hookie? I only know the first 2 lines from football matches but it's something about the English and King Edward - all it is to me is a beautiful tune :); November 08, 2009
Harry Hook said...: The Flower of Scotland

O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

"I didn't know you were Scottish, Hookie?"

I'm English... it's an urban myth that only a Scot can play pipes... in fact, most pipers I know who consistently breach the Geneva Convention on torture, are Scottish & Irish.; November 09, 2009
Goodnight Vienna said...: My ignorance for stereotyping pipers. Thanks for the lyrics - very proud and moving - the good old Scots are amongst my favourite people, though it's a sentiment often not reciprocated ;); November 12, 2009

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