Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the Young Pretender (to the throne), led the Jacobite uprising, but was defeated by the Duke of Cumberland on Scotland’s Culloden Moor in 1746. Aided by a Jacobite heroine named Flora MacDonald, who disguised him as her serving maid, Charles escaped from Uist to the island of Skye. He was later taken by a French vessel to Morlaix on the coast of Bretagne. Unlike the hope expressed in the song, and despite various political and religious maneuvers that took place over the following forty years, Charles did not return to take up the fight again. He died in Rome in 1788.
The words of the song were written in 1884 by business man, philanthropist, and song writer Sir Harold Boulton, Bart. (baronet) who lived from 1859 to 1935. The first half of the tune (the chorus) is said to be an old sea shanty (in this case, a Gaelic rowing song called “Cuachag nan Craobh,” or “The Cuckoo in the Grove”); the second half of the tune (the verse portion) is traditionally attributed to Miss Annie MacLeod (Lady Wilson). The song was not considered a traditional Scottish favorite until recent times. It is sometimes sung as a lullaby in a slow rocking time, or danced as a waltz.
The Skye Boat Song
Chorus:
Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunder clouds rend the air;
Baffled our foe's stand on the shore
Follow they will not dare
(Chorus)
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
(Chorus)
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field
(Chorus)
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet, e'er the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.
(Chorus)
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To review the history, the text, or to listen to the melody, check out this page from the Scottish Folk Music section of “Contemplations from the Marianas Trench - Music and Deep Thoughts” - http://www.contemplator.com/scotland/skyboat.html
To see a GIF image file of the score of the song, or to download an ABC file of the score, visit this page of “The Session” - http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3690
Skye Boat Song. (2002). Digital Tradition Mirror.
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiSKYEBOAT;ttSKYEBOAT.html
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The words of the song were written in 1884 by business man, philanthropist, and song writer Sir Harold Boulton, Bart. (baronet) who lived from 1859 to 1935. The first half of the tune (the chorus) is said to be an old sea shanty (in this case, a Gaelic rowing song called “Cuachag nan Craobh,” or “The Cuckoo in the Grove”); the second half of the tune (the verse portion) is traditionally attributed to Miss Annie MacLeod (Lady Wilson). The song was not considered a traditional Scottish favorite until recent times. It is sometimes sung as a lullaby in a slow rocking time, or danced as a waltz.
The Skye Boat Song
Chorus:
Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunder clouds rend the air;
Baffled our foe's stand on the shore
Follow they will not dare
(Chorus)
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
(Chorus)
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field
(Chorus)
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet, e'er the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.
(Chorus)
-
To review the history, the text, or to listen to the melody, check out this page from the Scottish Folk Music section of “Contemplations from the Marianas Trench - Music and Deep Thoughts” - http://www.contemplator.com/scotland/skyboat.html
To see a GIF image file of the score of the song, or to download an ABC file of the score, visit this page of “The Session” - http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3690
Skye Boat Song. (2002). Digital Tradition Mirror.
http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiSKYEBOAT;ttSKYEBOAT.html
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