We recently did a concert in Edinburgh on St Andrew's day, and it struck me that there are very few songs about St Andrew, so I wrote the following song.

The verse about the primary school arose out of a TV report on the leader of the Scottish government, Alex Salmond, who was seen to be singing the two songs mentioned. The Saltire is the diagonal cross of St Andrew, white cross on a blue background. "Bings" are heaps of spoil from old shale mines.

It is to the same tune as "Ghost Riders in the Sky", which has bee previously used to good effect by another Scottish songwriter, Bill Hill, in his song, "The Portree Kid" which I believe is in the DT.

SALTIRE IN THE SKY
©Words TS 27.11.07.
Tune: "Ghost Riders in the Sky"

While cruising down the M9 on a clear and starry night,
I drew my breath in sharply as I saw a wondrous sight,
For hovering o'er the Winchburgh bing up with the stars so high
There was an unmistakeable...saltire in the sky.

Chorus
Ho-ri-o-ri, ho-ro-o-ro, a saltire in the sky.

I told my friends of what I'd seen, and all of them just laughed,
They made me feel a numpty when they said that I was daft,
They said I must be on something, they asked who did supply
The dope that made me think I saw...a saltire in the sky.

Chorus
Ho-ri-o-ri, ho-ro-o-ro, a saltire in the sky.

When Alex went to Primary School, the TV men were there,
He wanted to be "a punk rocker with flowers in his hair",
But then he did his best, his credibility to save,
As we heard him gi'e it laldy...singing "Scotland the Brave"

Chorus
Scotland the Brave, Scotland the Brave, As Alex sang "Scotland the Brave".

But then I started thinking of this cross in sky so clear,
The symbol of our heritage and all we hold so dear,
As Andrew fished with Simon by the shores of Galilee,
When first they heard the call from one...who said "Now follow me"

Chorus
Now follow me, now follow me,
They heard the call and went with the one who said "Now follow me".

They walked and talked all afternoon, till sundown came, and then,
Their new-found friend said, "You shall both be fishers of men",
But when they crucified him on the hill of Calvary,
Andrew said "A saltire...will be the cross for me"

Chorus
Saltire for me, saltire for me, A saltire will be cross for me.

But now my thinking's over, and it's time to end this rhyme,
Don't let the tale of Andrew get lost in mists of time,
And maybe they were vapour trails from aeroplanes flying high,
But I definitely DID see...a saltire in the sky

Chorus
Hi-ri-o-ri, hi-ri-o-ro, A Saltire in the sky