The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #12991   Message #3634911
Posted By: Tattie Bogle
20-Jun-14 - 09:05 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Correction: Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
Subject: Lyr Add: CALEDONIA (Dougie MacLean)
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!