Back to my Scottish roots today…with a song I first sang in childhood at primary school in Edinburgh. It’s a song from the Isle of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides and is a song of longing for home when exiled over the sea, on the mainland, or often on the other side of the world. The Eriskay Love Lilt is a traditional folk song dating from the early 18th century and originally sung entirely in the Scottish Gaelic. I’ve chosen this version which I particularly like by Scottish singer Zoe Moskal who is based in North Berwick where I spent my childhood summers a very long time ago…
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2 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I've known the tune for a very long time, though not as long as you.
I once played a golf course called North Berwick alongside the South side of the Firth. It was beautiful.
rogerbenham
Level 8
Sep 15, 2024
1
Yes…there are two golf courses at North Berwick …and all along that coast, including Muirfield at Gullane which is one of the Open championship courses.
Lovely voice. Must bring back good memories for you despite being so sad.
Vair me o ro van o;
Vair me o ro ven ee;
Vair me o ru o ho.
I am sad without thee.
When I'm lonely, dear heart,
Black the night and the sea,
By love's light my foot finds
The way to thee.
Vair me o ro van o;
Vair me o ro ven ee;
Vair me o ru o ho.
Sad I am without thee.
O music of my heart,
O harp of joy,
Moon of guidance by night,
Strength and light to me.
Vair me o ro van o;
Vair me o ro ven ee;
Vair me o ru o ho.
I am sad without thee.
Text Authorship:
from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
a text in Scots Gaelic by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , from the Hebrides [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "An Eriskay love lilt", published 1969 [satb chorus a cappella], from Four British Folk-songs, no. 2, B. Schotts Söhne, Mainz; also set in German as "Liebesruf aus Eriskay" [ sung text verified 1 time]
FrayedBear
Level 9
Sep 15, 2024
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