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Sleeve Notes
SOMEDAY WE'LL SEE THEM/BATTLE O'THE SOMME
The words of this famous World War One pipe tune were written by Alex Campbell. Like many of his lyrics, the depth of their perception is not immediately obvious by the simplicity of their construction.
O' GIN I WERE A BARON'S HEIR
Billy learned this song over a series (serious) of drinking sessions from George Leitch.
SANDY ANDERSON
A great song in the 'Bothy Ballad' tradition, about the timeless love/hate relationship between a ploughman and his 'stingy' farmer employer. Learned from the singing of Alex Campbell.
THE DARK ISLAND/MacLEOD O' MULL/ BARBARA'S JIG
This beautiful well known air was written by Ian MacLaughlan of Benbecula, Calum's homeland, MacLEOD O'MULL is a march that Billy leaded from his brother George, and is followed on by BARBARA'S JIG.
THE MAN YOU DON'T MEET EVERYDAY
This song has been sung by three generations of my family, in one form or ; another. This version is remembered ' fragments of my grandmothers re-arranged with words of my own.
BLUES BONNETS OWER THE BORDER/PIBROCH O' DONALD DHU
I can remember having to sing this song, accompanied by the rousing piano playing of one 'Baldy Lawrie' our headmaster at Kingsland School, Peebles. Its been in my head ever since. Words by Sir Walter Scott
THE LEA-RIG
Written by Rabbie Burns, Billy learned this song from the singing of Robert Beck of Muirkirk, Ayrshire.
SONS O'GLENCOE
Folklore has it that this air was first played by a Campbell piper as a warning to the Madans (MacDonalds) on the eve of the infamous massacre. (February 13th 1692)
DRUMMOND CASTLE LAUNDRY
Would seem a very unlikely name for a tune, STOOL O'REPENTANCE. In the old days in Scotland, if you broke the commandments during the week you were placed on a stool at the front of the church on a Sunday morning, and your misdemeanours read out to the rest' of the congregation. This stool became known as the 'cutty stool' or 'stool O' repentenance.
CARRAIGHDOUN
An Irish love song about a lover gone away, maybe never to return. I first head this sung by the McPeake family of Belfast over twenty years ago, and never forgot the experience.
KATE DALRYMPLE/MINNIE HYND
Words written by William Watt (1793-1859) the melody is a modern variation of an old tune called 'Jinglin Johnnie'.
SCOTLAND THE WHITT??
An alternative view of the state of our nation, learned in many a late night session, I don't remember the author but it seems to say more about the place than the 'official' version of the song.