The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #101326   Message #2042698
Posted By: Jack Campin
03-May-07 - 06:29 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Scottish Sea Shanties
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scottish Sea Shanties
The shanties in The Complaint of Scotland are *not* Scottish. They were Wedderburn's transcription of what the invading English sailors sang.

Mist Covered Mountains is a late 19th century song to an English tune and has nothing at all to do with ships.

Kishmul's Galley was written (in English) around 1900 by Marjorie Kennedy-Fraser to a mangled version of a Gaelic waulking song. (Waulking is rhythmically walloping woven wool fabric soaked in stale urine - not exactly a maritime activity).

The Arran (not Aran unless you mean Ireland) Boat Song has no words I've ever heard. It's a version of The Banks of the Devon which has no maritime associations either.

The Cuillins aren't in Rhum. I've never heard or the song/tune, nor of Setting Sail for Iona (where from? you'd hardly need a shanty for a trip from Fionnphort).