Land of Light and things found while rummaging

Yeah that was me, blaring Thistle and Shamrock out the car windows while filling up the car. A string of great songs including a song I couldn’t find easily on iTunes. The playlist posted to the T&S site revealed the artist to be: William Jackson which was found and promptly downloaded along with a lovely one by Wendy Weatherby. Maybe Fiona Ritchie gave the actual singer’s name on air. Anyway, I ended up with two versions each of two different but equally uplifting songs.

Land of Light

O land of light
Ancient and strong,
Land of justice and hope of the young,
Land of the glen, and shining river.

Scotland my homeland forever
Alba mo dhuthaich gu deireadh mo la

Freedom and truth,
Music and verse,
Carried aflame to the ends of the earth,
Dear to my heart, where e’r I wander.

Scotland my homeland forever
Alba mo dhuthaich gu deireadh mo la

Now dawns the age,
Now comes the call,
Carry science and learning to all,
God, be our guide and leave us never.

Scotland my homeland forever
Alba mo dhuthaich gu deireadh mo la

Scotland my homeland forever

This is the other song via the Tannahill Weavers and Raising Jane, written by R. Gullane.

O sleep in peace you valleys and hills
Be safe be free as the breeze
The north wind of fear like a banshee howled
And she drove you down on your knees to pray
She drove you down on your knees

Lift up your head to the morning light
The fight o’er darkness is won
And feast your eyes on the land you love
Its life returning with the sun behold
Its life returning with the sun

And the morning walks proud, shining out like a flame
No evil could subdue
You open up your arms in friendship and joy
To welcome in the new born day
To welcome in the new

May the spirit so strong in the shadow and storm
Hold fast to what is right
And surely as you breathe the gentle air of peace
This land shall shelter in the light of love
This land shall shelter in the light
– Lyrics and melody by R. Gullane

In the rummaging for these lyrics (I just love a good anthem to learn and sing out!) I found a great site with loads of song lyrics including these which made me want to dance and sing at the same time:

The blue islands are putting love on me,
Their laughter puts the leap upon the lame,
The blue, blue islands from the Skerries to the Lees,
Wi’ heather honey taste upon each name.

(Chorus) Sure by Tummel and Loch Rannoch and Loch Aber I will go,
By heather tracks wi’ heaven in their wiles.
If it’s thinking in your inner heart, a blaggards in me step,
Sure you’ve never smelt the tangle of the Isles
–Road to the Isles, Traditional

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