Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???

Subject: Song about bagpipes and gratitude. Name?
From: GUEST,zak
Date: 07 May 20 - 10:23 AM

Hi all,

I used to listen to this lovely folk song about bagpipes and gratitude, but I can't find it anymore or remember the title or artist. Hopefully someone here knows it and can help. I just want to hear it again!

What I remember: It has pipers playing but the song is carried by the vocals, which are sung by a man with an accent that sounds Scottish or Irish to me. It's a story in first person told by a character who sails to the new world (I think Canada, maybe Nova Scotia) to settle with his family. The recurring theme is that he plays his bagpipes to no one in particular, to the world at large, as a form of thanks for good fortune, and fate smiles on him.

I believe it starts with him playing bagpipes back home growing up, before he leaves for the Americas. The climax of the song is when the ship carrying him to the new world is in a horrible storm and he's afraid he'll die. He goes on the deck and plays his pipes, and then thinks he hears another piper playing out on the sea, even though that's impossible. But then his ship makes it through.

The song ends with him playing his bagpipes at his new farm in the new world as a way of thanking the world in general. I think the line "pipe out my thanksgiving" or similar is in the chorus and the phrase "make a new life" also appears. I've tried Googling every way to Thursday.

It doesn't really sound like an old folk song to me, more like a new one that gives homage to immigrant stories and folk music style, perhaps including sea shanties. I would guess it was recorded in the last 30 years. I used to listen to it somewhere online, most likely Spotify, Youtube, or Pandora.

If I find it elsewhere I'll post it here. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 07 May 20 - 02:16 PM

Just found this:

Quantum Entanglement

"Anyways, Donald went down into the hull of their boat and grabbed his bagpipes. Once above deck, he started to blow them as loud as he could, hoping and praying that his song would be carried to the shore, by the westerly gales.

"In the meantime, an unknown “Good Samaritan” heard the faint bellowing and grabbed his bagpipes and began to blow loudly from the Kincardine shoreline.

"Eventually they could hear each others’ pipes and the captain of the boat was able to put in safely, in the harbour, with no lives lost.

"After that, Donald (believing” in paying it forward”) would often go to the harbour around dusk and “pipe” the setting sun down, in an effort to help anyone else who might need to find their way to shore."

So, while that page doesn't mention the song, it might give a clue to where the piper in the song made his home in the new world. Maybe it was Kincardine, Ontario, Canada.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 07 May 20 - 02:19 PM

Also the article mentions the name of the piper:

"This is where this story original begins in 1856, with another “Piper” named Donald Sinclair."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 07 May 20 - 03:00 PM

The following link contains essentially the same story as the link posted by Helen (good find btw), but it may be easier to work with.

https://canadathroughthelens.com/kincardine-lighthouse-home-of-the-phantom-piper/

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 20 - 04:38 PM

Woahhhhhh I think we're getting warmer! Thank you, this gives me more to search with.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 07 May 20 - 04:57 PM

Aw shucks! Thanks Starship. I even surprised myself, finding that article within two searches.

I tried Googling the search terms:

song bagpipes "pipe out my thanksgiving"

(with double quotes)

but had more success with the search terms:

song bagpipes "make a new life"


Guest, zak, I'm wondering whether it would be useful to contact the Kincardine tourist information or historical groups. I'm guessing they might know the song you are looking for.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 20 - 05:06 PM

Good idea, Helen. I'll try to contact them.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 07 May 20 - 05:49 PM

zak, you said elsewhere that it somehow made you think of Northwest Passage by Stan. Was the piping incidental to the song you heard--maybe added because the song was about two pipers saving a ship/boat, or was it up there in importance with the voices? 'NP' was a cappella, but if you'd be kind enough to explain just a bit more about the interplay of voices and pipes, and if you can recall the other instruments that featured, and how they came into the song, that too would be helpful.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 20 - 07:26 PM

Good point, Starship. I guess NP doesn't have any instruments at all. I remember that bag pipes weren't a very prominent part of the actual instrumentation in this song, even though they are a feature of the story.

I hate to admit it but it's even possible that there were no actual bagpipes in the recording and I just imagined that.

I also posted about this on reddit and there are some people trying to figure it out there too: https://www.reddit.com/r/folk/comments/get3ow/does_anyone_else_know_this_wonderful_song/

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 07 May 20 - 08:46 PM

"10-02-2009, 07:05 PM

Back in 1856, on a cold, October day, a small vessel left the Port of Goderich carrying a family from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It was the final leg of a journey for the immigrant family that intended to farm at Penetangore (now Kincardine).

The weather was cloudy with a light breeze out of the southwest when the vessel left Goderich. But as the boat approached Point Clark, the sky turned black and a cold wind started to blow out of the west making for heavier and heavier seas.

As the vessel slowly beat its way north, late afternoon turned to dusk and the captain feared he would not find Penetangore in the dark.

Donald Sinclair, fearing for his family, went down into the hold and fetched his pipes. He prayed for safe passage and then played a lament. The sound of the pipes carried across the water to Penetangore where another piper heard the rich sound. The settler on shore retrieved his pipes and played another lament in return, just as the sky suddenly cleared in the west and the sun set beneath the cold waters.

The captain, knowing he had to be near Penetangore, headed for the drone of the bagpipes and eventually made his way into the harbour.

For many years after the narrow escape, Donald Sinclair often went down to the harbour to play the pipes at dusk. They say it was a way to remember his good fortune and to remind others of the power of the pipes. And it's in the memory of Donald Sinclair that the Kincardine Scottish has decided to play at dusk atop the lighthouse on sunny summer evenings. The piper will only appear when the sun sets and will pipe the sun down."

That was posted by David Marshall at

http://forums.bobdunsire.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-126105.html

You'll find the post a bit over halfway down the page (just about where Oscar Wilde would have looked).

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,zak
Date: 08 May 20 - 09:39 AM

Thanks, Starship. So it's shaping up that this is a myth that has been recorded or put to poem or song lots of times. Pentangore sound familiar; I think they use that name in the song I'm thinking of.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 08 May 20 - 10:06 AM

Penetangore is I think an Ojibwa (various spellings) group of words that mean 'river with a sandy bank on one side'. I read that somewhere a few days back.

Thing is, you heard the song, so it is out there. Whether it's on the internet is another question which at present needs answering. The problem is that one cannot prove a negative. Please let us know if/when you receive an answer from the town. That would be much appreciated.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: cnd
Date: 08 May 20 - 11:41 AM

Have you seen the poem/song(?) The Legend of Donald Sinclair by A. I. Marin?

The Legend Of Donald Sinclair
Published in Midnight Song, July 2008

Every night on the breeze of sea air
The pipes tell the legend of Donald Sinclair
His vessel left Skye from the Port of Goderich
On the voyage to shore, the winds changed and switched
It was eighteen fifty-six, nearly October
No one predicted that their life could be over
But on the Enchantedwas a hint of fear
They all just hoped for that freedom so near
As the boat passed by the famous Point Clark
All hope was lost, the heavens grew dark
His family was sailing on this cold night with him
Chance of all surviving became very slim
The fog was surrounding and the Huron was cold
Nothing could save them, not even all gold
So he let his pipes recite his story
He played with all soul, heart, might and glory.

Chorus:
And he kept on playing his depressing lament
His death approaching was sadly apparent
But the mysterious phantom piper got them out of this ditch
The closer they got the higher the pitch
The haunting sounds of the pipes carried across the stormy water
The wind conveyed it to the Penetangore harbor
At this point in time Sinclair’s clock began to tick
But another piper heard the sound of his music

And with his life down in the mud
He was braver than the royal blood
For him to forget he knew he should
Play louder than he ever could
The stranger that had heard the sound
Knew that he was rightfully bound
To take deep breaths and run inside
And in the night play his own pipes

Chorus
“Aye, I hear music” whispered Sinclair
“Someone on land must kindly care”
His wife wondered “Who’s playing there?
This phantom piper plays with flair.”
This must mean that land is nigh
Don’t give up, and please don’t cry
Although no horizon is in sight
I shall refuse to depart this life
Be strong lads and hold on to the rail
We still have hope to further sail.”

Chorus
And so the pipes played proud and strong
Sinclair’s clock almost had rung
Fortuitously they were now saved
Sinclair’s lived another joyful day
To repay the Phantom Piper
Sinclair played forever after

Source: https://aimarin.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/the-legend-of-donald-sinclair/

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 08 May 20 - 12:00 PM

cnd, you are awesome.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 08 May 20 - 04:27 PM

zak, I don't think it could be called a myth. It seems to me on reading the accounts that it actually happened although some of the details may have been romanticised over time.

Yep. I second that, Starship. cnd, you are awesome.

I think that it's highly likely that the people of Kincardine, Ontario will know the song because it is part of their local history.

I second what Starship said. Please let us know if you find out anything.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: cnd
Date: 08 May 20 - 06:08 PM

Thanks for the praise, Helen and Starship, but let's see if it's actually right first.

If it is, though, then I'll take the praise!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,zak
Date: 09 May 20 - 01:55 PM

CND -- that *miiiiight* be the song, but I would have to hear a recording to know. The lyrics don't exactly match my memory but the meaning is basically the same. I want to listen to a recording but I can't find one on AI Marin's website.


I'm having a further flash of memory that it includes the line "pipe out my/his thanksgiving until the evening's done." that doesn't appear in these lyrics but at this point I might be remembering it wrong.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 09 May 20 - 03:27 PM

zak, it's possible that there is more than one song or poem about this story.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: cnd
Date: 09 May 20 - 10:23 PM

Sadly, I've found no evidence to suggest that the poem above was ever recorded

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,Zak (OP)
Date: 09 Jun 20 - 01:55 PM

FOUND! It's Raise the Pipes in Glory by Lee Murdock.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpRDF-beHZs)

[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/4hbt4wGJPmnWhgkMu3OB9N?si=gRKbMxJXQryWSpQ6TqWAFQ)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 09 Jun 20 - 04:32 PM

Hey Zak, that's fantastic. Success for a group effort!

Did you contact the Kincardine tourist information or historical groups or did you find it another way? Enquiring minds want to know. :-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 10 Jun 20 - 05:06 AM

Hey Starship & cnd, check this out!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: cnd
Date: 12 Jun 20 - 03:02 PM

Glad to hear you found it Zak! That's a nice song

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 11:57 AM

Cool.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: What's the name of this bagpipe song???
From: Helen
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 04:17 PM

A threads like this one is a prime example of Mudcat at its best, in my opinion.

A bunch of people with different musical interests and research skills working together to solve a musical mystery.

Way to go!