Mull of Kintyre - The title of this album is taken from a line in this song which expresses Sir Paul’s love of his farm in Argyll. Its location and McCartney’s use of the bagpipes have given this wonderful song to Scotland forever.
Land of Light - Winner of “A Song for Scotland” in 1999, this song has been adopted by American-Scots. Seldom heard in Scotland, we feel its hymnic beauty deserves a wider audience at home.
An Eriskay Love Lilt - One of the most well-known songs to come out of the Hebrides, this haunting love song seems to encapsulate the blue-grey skies and unique beauty of these isolated islands.
Scotland the Brave - Despite being one of Scotland’s most famous tunes, the lyrics of “Scotland the Brave” have always presented problems, most notably to football supporters who prefer to sing it to the words “Na na n’ Na na na na Na…”! We have written our own words which we hope are worthy of this great tune.
Amazing Grace - This timeless spiritual never ceases to inspire with its profound words and is forever linked to Scotland by the blazing entry of the pipes. Singing the final verse on the back of their mighty solo rendition is the thrilling sonic equivalent of surfing a thirty-foot wave!
Bonnie Dundee - One of Scottish history’s most infamous rogues, John Graham of Claverhouse, Marquis of Dundee had two nicknames: “Bloody Clavers” if he fought against you or “Bonnie Dundee” if he fought for you. His canny knack of fighting for the winning side deserted him at the battle of Killiekrankie where he died from his wounds.
Ye Banks and Braes - Burns’ exquisite song of unrequited love. It is too perfect a song to be monopolised by the fairer sex so we hope you will forgive the gender adjustment in the text which allows tenors to sing it!
Tàladh Chriosda (Christchild’s Lullaby) - We created an arrangement of this ancient Gaelic carol specifically for our Christmas show in Berlin. Like many other songs of its type, the warm heart of the text makes itself felt through the wintry chill of the music.
A Jacobite Medley: Ye Jacobites by Name/Wha wadna fecht for Charlie?/Killiekrankie - This triptych belongs to the period in Scottish history responsible for a greater outpouring of poetry and song than any other. Those of us who grew up with the Corries can’t forget the grit and rhythmic drive they brought to these songs. As with “Bonnie Dundee” we have tried to recreate some of their energy here.
Scots wha Ha’e - The stark hush and terror of imminent battle lie behind this, Burns’ interpretation of Bruce’s great rallying cry to his army at Bannockburn. The voice-over is the famous excerpt from the Declaration of Arbroath, the world’s first great declaration of independence in 1320. Is there another song that stirs a Scot’s blood quite like this one? We think not.
The First time ever I saw your Face - Written by the Scot, Ewan McColl, this song has been recorded by an intimidatingly illustrious list of stars, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Celine Dion and, most famously, Roberta Flack. Like them, we couldn’t resist the achingly romantic pull of the lyrics and the sublime melody.
Medley: No Man’s Land/The Floo'rs o' the Forest - The Peebles-born songwriter, Eric Bogle, wrote this anti-war song in 1976 and it has become one of his most recorded songs. The sweetness of the melody belies the sting in the words, behind which lurk the horror and terrible waste of human life in the trench warfare of the Great War. The Floo'rs o' the Forest mentioned in the last line of the chorus is the pipe-tune most commonly played at the funerals of Scottish soldiers and is heard here in the play-out of Caledon’s version.