Strayed into this conversation by accident, in the process of writing a book about Gaelic song.

I am a big fan of Jim MacLean's work, which has all the marks of good folksong (simplicity, singability, etc etc)and a real knowledge of history. This very "authenticity" is perhaps its worst enemy as regards copyright: people are inclined to assume that the best songs are "traditional".

I am also a fan (and a pal) of Alistair Macdonald, who has done such a lot to popularise the songs of people like Jim MacLean and Matt McGinn throughout his career(www.corbanrecordings.co.uk).

I have recorded two of Jim MacLean's songs: "Glencoe" on my album "The Hills of Lorne" and "Hush hush time to be sleeping" on my album "Milestone". Properly attributed to the composer of course in each instance.

I prefaced my recorded version of "Glencoe" with a line or two of "Mhnathan a' ghlinne seo 's mithich dhuibh eirigh" ("Women of this glen it's time you got up") a Scottish Gaelic lullaby which is said to have been played in the night by the Campbells' piper in order to warn the sleeping MacDonalds of the impending massacre. The tune of "Mhnathan a' Ghlinne seo" is not dissimilar to Jim's "Glencoe", and it seemed to make a fitting intro to his song.

NB: I am not suggesting that Jim's melody is in any way "based" on the older tune, though if it were this would be perfectly good traditional practice - very many Gaelic and Scots songs share and borrow and adapt tunes from one another. And, in days before writing, poets needed tunes to help them to remember the words of their poems. The tunes were little more than vehicles for the words.

Finally, I too was a pal of Roddy MacMillan's, the great Scottish actor (who "became" Para Handy in BBC Scotland's televised version, away back in the 1960/70s). Roddy's people were from Harris, and he wrote several good songs (e.g. "Farewell my love" - also on my album "The Hills of Lorne"). Another was "I will go, I will go" (The Land of MacLeod) - both tune and words adapted from the great Gaelic song Napoleonic song "Tha mi 'n duil" (Duthaich MhicLeoid).

If you want to know more (sorry - plug coming up!) you'll have to buy the book. "Songs of Gaelic Scotland", to be published by Birlinn, Edinburgh, hopefully in time for Christmas if I stop blethering to you and get it finished!!!

If you want to buy "The Hills of Lorne", please contact me on ann@annelornegillies.co.uk

Leis gach deagh dhurachd

Dr Anne Lorne Gillies