Have had the pleasure of seeing Dougie in concert last weekend: a really good night. he sang Caledonia as his encore "or risk being lynched"! He now has a re-vamped website with lyrics of a lot of his songs on it. So here is his (definitive) version of how he sings it now (the "kissed the ladies" line is out! see note at the bottom, also copied from the web page)
Music and Lyrics by Dougie MacLean Published by Limetree Arts and Music (MCPS and PRS UK)
I don't know if you can see the changes that have come over me In these last few days I've been afraid that I might drift away So I've been telling old stories, singing songs, that make me think about where I come from That's the reason why I seem so far away today
CHORUS Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time Caledonia you're calling me and now I'm going home But if I should become a stranger you know that it would make me more than sad Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
I have moved and I've kept on moving, proved the points that I needed proving Lost the friends that I needed losing, found others on the way I have tried and I've kept on trying, stolen dreams, yes there's no denying* I have traveled hard sometimes with conscience flying somewhere in the wind
CHORUS
Now I'm sitting here before the fire, the empty room the forest choir The flames that couldn't get any higher they've withered now they've gone But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear and I know what I will do tomorrow When the hands have shaken and the kisses flow then I will disappear
CHORUS
*Earlier lyric for this line was "I have kissed the ladies and left them crying"...Dougie changed the lyric for Frankie Miller when he released Caledonia as a single and, feeling comfortable with the new lyric himself, carried on singing the new version which he prefers!