Could I perhaps add to this correspondence, by mentioning that Dave did me the extraordinary honour of actually writing this song for me, in (if my memory serves me correctly) 1970. I should sing it more often. I was living in Whitley Bay at the time and I remember well receiving his letter which contained the words, "Your song is ready - when can you come and collect?". At that time, Dave was living in Glen Cottage, Glen Torridon, Wester Ross, where he was running a climbers' hostel. However, there are a few errors in the words which were supplied earlier in this exchange and as far as I can recall, a correct version is as follows:-

SANDWOOD DOWN TO KYLE (Dave Goulder)

One Monday morn as I went out
The wild birds for to see
I met a man upon the road
And asked for charity.

Come home with me and take your fill
And comfort you shall find
And tell me why you walk the road
That leaves the hills behind.

For time has spent the summer, sir
And soon the leaves will fall
And I hear a change within the wind
That plays around your walls.

For the bird must flee the winter, sir
She cannot stay behind
To build her nest upon the snow
Nor can I look for mine.

But if I could have a hundred homes
And dwell in each a while
I'd build them all along the coast
From Sandwood down to Kyle.

(The last last two lines are repeated at the end of each verse and can be treated as a refrain, in which the audience may join.)

Yours aye, Gus Langlands.