Always Argyll

Been listening to an old CD of my grandmother's. She and my grandfather were Scottish. They migrated to Australia long before I was born.

They landed in Perth, the capital of Western Australia, along with a stack of other Scottish migrants. Perth is named after a town in Scotland.

They hung out with a lot of migrant Scots but they also put themselves about with Australian-born people and generally made an effort to fit in. That was partly because some of the Scots they knew missed Scotland terribly and talked about it constantly and my grandparents didn't want to fall into that trap.

My grandfather had a good voice and he used to hum quietly for a bit then burst into singing out loud. But there were a couple of songs he wasn't allowed to sing. He'd start absentmindedly humming them and my grandmother would tell him to stop in this really tense voice and he'd say "Oh aye" and abruptly start singing 'Donald where's your troosers?' out loud. A couple of times I asked about it and he'd say "It's nothing, it upsets your grandmother" or just shake his head.

'Donald where's your troosers?' is a funny song and a good distraction and over time he hummed the forbidden songs less and less and I forgot about it.

But now I'm listening to this old CD I recognise the start of the forbidden songs and I know why he wasn't allowed to sing them. The songs were 'Always Argyll' and the 'Skye Boat Song'. Songs of the homesick. Now I know my Gran was stopping him from torturing himself with missing Scotland.


Always Argyll

MP3

I've seen the red sunset glow gold on Loch Fyne
Have I seen these strange wonders for the very last time?
The bright lights of Tarbert are beckoning bright
In the shivering coldness of a dark winter's night.
The Kyles in their glory are spread out below
The high hills of Aran are white-capped with snow
I'll soon have to think of Australia as home
But the truth will be always Argyll.

Always Argyll, always Argyll
Long will the memory linger
I'll soon have to think of Australia as home
But the truth will be always Argyll

High above Tignabruch I look out to sea
It will soon be no more than a memory to me
So I'll shed these few tears as my heart will allow
And maybe in time, I'll be happy somehow.
The thoughts of my childhood spin round in my mind
As I think of the beauty I'm leaving behind
When they ask where I come from, Australia I'll say
But the truth will be always Argyll.


Skye Boat Song

MP3 (Different lyrics, right tune)

The islands are calling
Me back home again
And I long for the skyline of Skye

A lassie is waiting
My girl of the glen
‘Neath the beautiful skyline of Skye

I left her on springtime
Though I loved her so
The blue mountains whispered,
You’re foolish to go

As I sailed with the tide
Something died here inside
How I cried for the skyline of Skye

Speed bonny 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

In memory I’m hearing
A ghost of a tune
It keeps haunting my heart with a sigh

It tells of our parting
That sad afternoon
It’s the song of the skyline of Skye

The road to the mountains
Leads down to the sea
And that’s where my love
Will be waiting for me

And together we’ll stay
‘Til we’re both old and grey
‘Neath the beautiful skyline of Skye

Yes together we’ll stay
‘Til we’re both old and grey
‘Neath the beautiful skyline of Skye


Donald where's your troosers?

(Whilst listening to this song, picture a braw young lad who's a wee bit shy but good enough to eat.)

YouTube

I've just come down from the Isle of Skye
I'm no' very big and I'm awful shy
The lassies shout when I go by
Donald, where's your troosers?

Let the wind blow high
And the wind blow low
Through the streets in my kilt I go
All the lassies say Hello!
Donald, where's your troosers?

To wear the kilt is my delight
It isna wrong and I know it's right
And all the folks would get a fright
If they saw me with no clooses!

Let the wind blow high
And the wind blow low
Through the streets in my kilt I go
All the lassies say Hello!
Donald, where's your troosers?

A lassie took me to a ball
And it was slippery in the hall
And I was feared that I would fall
For I had no' me troosers!

Let the wind blow high
And the wind blow low
Through the streets in my kilt I go
All the lassies say Hello!
Donald, where's your troosers?

I once went down to London town
I had some fun in the Underground
A lassie turned her head around, saying
Donald! Where's your troosers?

Let the wind blow high
And the wind blow low
Through the streets in my kilt I go
All the lassies say Hello!
Donald, where's your troosers?

The lassies want me, every one
Just let them catch me if they can
You canna take the breeks off a Highland man
For I don't wear no troosers!

Let the wind blow high
And the wind blow low
Through the streets in my kilt I go
All the lassies say Hello!
Donald, where's your troosers?

Let the wind blow high
And the wind blow low
Through the streets in my kilt I go
All the lassies say Hello!
Donald, where's your troosers?

Donald, where's your troosers?