Origins: Come by the Hills

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 13 - 01:19 AM

Is this song copyrighted somewhere?

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: Jack Campin
Date: 27 May 13 - 05:57 AM

The tune can't be, the words are. W. Gordon Smith died around 1990, I think. I may still have his daughter's address and phone number somewhere, but he will have been organized enough to get the song registered in the usual places.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: RunrigFan
Date: 04 Jan 21 - 07:53 PM

Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the loch reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken grows gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait 'til this day is done

Come by the hills to the land where wealth is a song
And listen while birds fill the air with their joy all day long
Where the trees sway in time, even the wind seems in tune
And cares of tomorrow must wait 'til this day is done

Come by the hills to the land where legend remains
Where stories of old fill the heart and may yet come again
For a past has been lost and the future is there to be won
And cares of tomorrow must wait 'til this day is done

Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free
And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the loch reach the sea
Where the rivers run clear and the bracken grows gold in the sun
And cares of tomorrow must wait 'til this day is done
And cares of tomorrow must wait 'til this day is done

As recorded by Angus Smith from his album Òrain

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: robomatic
Date: 04 Jan 21 - 08:28 PM

I've only heard the version sung by Gordon Bok and Anne Mayo Muir, though I think the story on the LP album cover was that it was a recent song penned by a Scots television producer, the song speaks to me of an ever ready nostalgia that anyone can apply if not to actual images, to an image of images.

By the end verse, I usually have tears in my eyes.

I've never been to Scotland.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: RunrigFan
Date: 05 Jan 21 - 12:16 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIHqebR-jfk

Capercaillie and Anne Lorne Gillies use a similar melody to Come By The Hills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y04MhVzV_DY

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 05 Jan 21 - 03:46 AM

Runrig fan.. please STOP circulating words of well known songs without credit to the known writers. This is the late W. Gordon Smith's modern lyrics to a well known older air. They are not the words of the artist performing it..who have no part in the matter, The song's origins have been discussed many times and written down many times on here. I fail to understand why you feel the need to reproduce them again.   It's not the artist recording it who is the originator, you are not adding anything to these previously covered threads, just confusing it.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: RunrigFan
Date: 05 Jan 21 - 05:08 AM

The lyrics? The artist who not have lyrics in their album. I believe it said traditional. It's not the artist recording it who is the originator, you are not adding anything to these previously covered threads, just confusing it. - Are you deluded? Did i say it was the artist was the originator? No?

If by you talking about the links as I said before the Scottish version using a similar melody. Big difference

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: RunrigFan
Date: 06 Jan 21 - 01:19 PM

Buachaille Ban used the Come By The Hills melody but a other tune is used

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: RunrigFan
Date: 06 Jan 21 - 01:20 PM

Anne Lorne gillies info

https://www.discogs.com/image/R-9269266-1489265187-7714.jpeg

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 12:02 AM

we all know that Come by the Hills has is derived from a Gaelic work. However, the words you reproduced, which have already been included in other places are the copyright work of the late W. Gordon Smith who died in 1996 - you credited the performer "as performed by..." as if they were performing a trad variant, but didn't credit the true modern writer.   No matter if someone varies the lyric with a word change here and there, it always remains the copyright of the original writer. The words will be in UK copyright until 2066, though many take the whole work as being trad. due to the use of the old Gaelic tune from which that side is derived. W. Gordon Smith wrote a wholly original lyric as 'Come By The Hills'. His English lyric has nothing whatsoever to do with the Gaelic one, and the origins of the Gaelic work has its own thread. W. Gordon Smith was a playwright, songwriter, TV producer, journalist and folk record producer who worked with the Corries etc.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Feb 21 - 02:28 AM

Biographical note about W. Gordon Smith as art collector:

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19053315.lasting-legacy-w-gordon-smith-wife-jay/

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: RunrigFan
Date: 15 Sep 22 - 06:19 PM

we all know that Come by the Hills has is derived from a Gaelic work. However, the words you reproduced, which have already been included in other places are the copyright work of the late W. Gordon Smith who died in 1996 - you credited the performer "as performed by..." as if they were performing a trad variant, but didn't credit the true modern writer.   - Look up inlays in cassettes/cd/vinyl. Did I even say they were a trad variant? No I didn't. The fact is the album in question is credited (know what that means) as Trad. Don't pass the buck on me dear. Do you throw your arms when many releases that has a Robert Burns songs or songs with known writers are credited as trad, arr or arranged by said artist. More things to worry then about petty things,


No matter if someone varies the lyric with a word change here and there, it always remains the copyright of the original writer. - Dur Sherlock. Of course. But I didn't say if some lyric were changed a bit the copyright wasn't the rights of the writer. If you look at my message; I didn't say such a thing. If no such writer are credited; how the hell am I going to know W. Gordon Smith wrote the song. If someone who may not be familiar with Folk Music and they had a release that said trad, would you belittle them because they are not familiar with said song.


The words will be in UK copyright until 2066, though many take the whole work as being trad. due to the use of the old Gaelic tune from which that side is derived. W. Gordon Smith wrote a wholly original lyric as 'Come By The Hills'. His English lyric has nothing whatsoever to do with the Gaelic one, and the origins of the Gaelic work has its own thread. W. Gordon Smith was a playwright, songwriter, TV producer, journalist and folk record producer who worked with the Corries etc. - Again not something I asked but thanks.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Sep 22 - 12:12 PM

On another topic - thanks for bringing this lovely melody to my attention. I have printed it out for my travelling music book, and I'll be playing it on recorder on a mountainside some day.

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Come by the Hills
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Sep 22 - 12:17 PM

What I use to make a travelling music book:

small, tough book

That's the easy part. The complicated part is buying and learning the music program (I use Noteworthy Composer) which prints music that fits on a 3 x 5 card.