Subject: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue From: Tootler Date: 29 Jul 07 - 10:12 AM I remember this song being quite commonly sung when I lived in Thurso for a while but I never got round to learning it. Can anyone supply the words? I would appreciate the tune as well as I can only remember a fragment of it. It seemed to be used as a dance tune - Waltz IIRC. TIA |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue From: John MacKenzie Date: 29 Jul 07 - 10:19 AM Tune I can't find the lyrics for the moment, but look under Kylesku. Giok |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Date: 29 Jul 07 - 10:29 AM At a meeting of travellers last year, organised by Bob Pegg, it was sung and firmly credited to a member of the singer's family. I recall hearing on a compilation of field recordings in the late 1950s a substantially different text to what was presented as the 'authorised' version. Very sweet tune, similar to the Irish song whose chorus begins 'This is the way from day to day the world goes on I'm sure Some rambling in the riches while the drinking man is poor' Kylesku chorus as best I recall it Of all of bonny Scotland, I dearly love the West Its ## and ##, truly are the best For grandeur and for beauty in the hills when passing through There's many miles from Lairg to the waters of Kylesku |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue From: Scotus Date: 29 Jul 07 - 01:05 PM It's on the 'Prestige' (I think) album 'The Berryfields of Blair' - field recordings made by Kenneth Goldstein and Hamish Henderson around 1954. Jack |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue From: Tootler Date: 29 Jul 07 - 03:49 PM Thanks for the tune Giok. I must get up to date, as I never thought to search U-Tube [g]. I did try both spellings of Kylescu(e), though. I think the 1950's version mentioned above is likely to be the one I used to hear. I was in Thurso in 1965 and somehow the chorus you posted seems to ring a [somewhat distant] bell. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue From: Tootler Date: 30 Jul 07 - 06:45 PM refresh |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue From: Jim Dixon Date: 01 Aug 07 - 06:19 PM I found one verse and a sound file at a web site called Am Baile/The Gaelic Village: When it's daybreak on Ben Loyal and the bonnie Kyle of Tongue The roads we often travelled in the days when we were young There's magic and there's beauty in those hills we're passing through There's many a mile from Millness to the waters of Kylesku. |
Subject: Lyr Add: WATERS OF KYLESKU From: GUEST,Allan Date: 05 Aug 07 - 03:11 PM Words as I remember them hope this helps By Clebrig and Ben Loyal and the bonnie Kyle of Tounge The roads we oft times travelled in the days when we were young There's magic and there's beauty in those Hills while passing through There's many a mile from Melness to the Waters of Kylesku O'er all of Bonnie Scotland I dearly love the west It's bens and glens in summer time they surely are the best There's grandeur and there's beauty in those Hills while passing through There's many a mile from Lairg to the Waters of Kylesku By Craggie pool and Loyal and the Coldbackie sands I've thought of them while soldering in far off foreign lands I dream't I saw the sunset o'er the hills of Casheldhu In fancy I was wandering by the Waters of Kylesku There's beautiful Achfary on the shores of Loch More Where winter waves are breakling like the seas of Skerrymore By Laxford and Rheconich and the bonnie caves of Smoo There's many a mile from Durness to the Waters of Kylesku By Ledmore and Loch Assynt from Lochiver down to Stoer You can view the wild Atlantic from it's cold and rocky shore The clear and sparkling rivers here the salmon are not few There's many a mile from Oykell to the waters of Kylesku Where the Naver river rises in the heights of high Ben Hee Through lovely Strathnaver its flowing to the sea The heather bells on Clebrig side are decked in morning dew There's many a mile from Langdale to the Waters of Kylesku |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue / ... Kylesku From: Tootler Date: 05 Aug 07 - 03:22 PM Many thanks to all. I found a few references to the tune, but none to the words. I will put them on my website when I have the tune properly sorted - not just in my head, but under my fingers so I can write it down. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue / ... Kylesku From: GUEST,Welsh Granny Date: 06 Aug 07 - 07:33 AM Just an aside....I last was at Kylesku almost 30 years ago when there was still a ferry, which has now been replaced by a bridge. The Hotel had no mains electricity and they were supplied by an old and rather temperamental generator...which was ok except for the playing of a tape of Scottish Country Dance music which speeded up and slowed down as the old generator coughed and wheezed. It was a great experience, anyway. Here is a picture of sunset at Kylesku...there are other photos at this brilliant website which is a project to photograph every grid square of the British Isles http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/32129 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue / ... Kylesku From: GUEST,Alan Ross Date: 06 Aug 07 - 09:08 AM The big regional hit of this song was recorded for Grampian Records of Wick, by singer Argo Cameron I think about 1964. Argo was known as the singing baker - and still does work for charity. Other Scottish versions followed his, by Calum Kennedy and the Alexander Brothers etc. It was supposed to have been composed, or lyrics were by a local water baliff called Henderson if memory is correct. Must check the MCPS database. The verses seem to go on and on - as there is little tune variation throughout the work. Argo made a number of singles and LP's for defunct Grampian Records, and also recorded the Stewart Ross version (very primitive recording) of Dark Island in 1965. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue / ... Kylesku From: GUEST Date: 06 Aug 07 - 09:40 AM The North of Scotland version of the work is indeed credited as Having been written by one David Henderson. Grampian records were formed in 1964, and the Waters of Kylesku was their big local hit of the time. This explains the popularity of the song in 1965, and how Scots warbler Calum Kennedy and others of the ilk took the song up in subsequent years. I know not if its based on an earlier work, but the Henderson version would be a copyright work. I know a few people have addded verses to the tune to suit!
-Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylescue / ... Kylesku From: Tootler Date: 06 Aug 07 - 06:10 PM A few listenings to Giok's UTube link stirred some old memories and I have managed to cobble together a version of the tune. It is in abc format at the end of this post. Given I have not heard it in over 40 years (that frightens me) I am sure there are mistakes. Please tell me of any corrections I need to make. X:1 T:Waters of Kylesku, The M:3/4 R:Waltz L:1/4 Q:180 K:G d|B2 A|G2 B|d2 d|B2 d|g2 g|f2 e|d3-|d2 d| d2 d|e2 d|d2 B|G2 B|d2 d|c2 B|A3-|A2 d| B2 A|G2 B|d2 d|B2 d|g2 g|f2 e|d3-|d2 d| d2 d|e2 d|d2 B|G2 A|B/2 d/2-d2|B2 A|G3-|G2|| |
Subject: Tune Add: WATERS OF KYLESKU From: Tootler Date: 06 Aug 07 - 07:09 PM I found a midi and comparing it with what I have just posted, some changes in the last eight bars are in order. Revised version below. X:1 T:Waters of Kylesku, The M:3/4 R:Waltz L:1/4 Q:180 K:G d|B2 A|G2 B|d2 d|B2 d|g2 g|f2 e|d3-|d2 d| d2 d|e2 d|d2 B|G2 B|d2 d|c2 B|A3-|A2 d| B2 A|G2 B|d2 d|B2 d|g2 g|f2 e|d3-|d2 d| d2 d|e2 f|g2 e|d2 c|B/2 d/2-d2|B2 A|G3-|G2|| |
Subject: ADD: Waters of Kylesku From: GUEST,999--from http://www.footstompin.com/public/ Date: 06 Dec 09 - 12:10 AM WATERS OF KYLESKU ^^ By Clebrig and Ben Loyal and the bonnie Kyle of Tongue The roads we oft times travelled in the days when we were young There's magic and there's beauty in those Hills while passing through There's many a mile from Melness to the Waters of Kylesku O'er all of Bonnie Scotland I dearly love the west It's bens and glens in summer time they surely are the best There's grandeur and there's beauty in those Hills while passing through There's many a mile from Lairg to the Waters of Kylesku By Craggie pool and Loyal and the Coldbackie sands I've thought of them while soldering in far off foreign lands I dream't I saw the sunset o'er the hills of Casheldhu In fancy I was wandering by the Waters of Kylesku There's beautiful Achfary on the shores of Loch More Where winter waves are breakling like the seas of Skerrymore By Laxford and Rheconich and the bonnie caves of Smoo There's many a mile from Durness to the Waters of Kylesku By Ledmore and Loch Assynt from Lochiver down to Stoer You can view the wild Atlantic from it's cold and rocky shore The clear and sparkling rivers here the salmon are not few There's many a mile from Oykell to the waters of Kylesku Where the Naver river rises in the heights of high Ben Hee Through lovely Strathnaver its flowing to the sea The heather bells on Clebrig side are decked in morning dew There's many a mile from Langdale to the Waters of Kylesku |
Subject: LYR ADD From: GUEST,maybe just above Date: 06 Dec 09 - 12:37 AM . |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: Tootler Date: 25 Oct 10 - 03:30 PM Update to this thread. I've just been putting together a set of waltzes including Waters of Kylesku. I had another hunt round the web and found this discussion on another forum including a post from David Henderson's granddaughter. They suggest the tune is traditional. Some further confirmation would be useful, but I'm going to mark it Traditional for now. Still haven't got round to learning the song, though! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: Joe Offer Date: 18 Jan 12 - 06:16 PM Here's a message from Craig Cockburn:
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=103655 but the message isn't appearing. Here it is This is my story on the song (came across this page trying to see if the story is authentic or not so can't vouch for its authenticity!) In 1995 I was in Sutherland (Rogart) attending a Gaelic course and met up with some students from the Dept of Celtic at Edinburgh University. One was doing field recordings, the other was a piper. We went out one night to do some recordings from an old man living in a home. I think the visit is referred to in this paper: http://www.jstor.org/pss/40732058 I guess he would have been in his mid 80s or so. He used to play the pipes. In return for telling us his stories which were recorded, the student who played the pipes played a tune as a thank you which I instantly recognised as "gad chuimhneachadh" http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/tbh/aigcridhearciuil/facail/gaol/page09.shtml from the singing of Art Cormack. At that point the old man (OK, let's call him a bodach in the nicest sense of the word) said, oh thank you for playing that, I composed it. Which is an astonishing coincidence considering it was picked by the piper at random. So my theory is that it was a pipe tune first, maybe pre WW2, then became a Gaelic song and finally and English song. Of course none of this can probably be verified, but it's a lovely story. -- Craig Cockburn ("coburn"). Director, Siliconglen.com Ltd Web project and programme manager. M.Sc., CITP, C.Eng http://www.CraigCockburn.com |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 19 Jan 12 - 10:55 AM Tootler, a belated thank you for the abc for this tune. It will make a beautiful piece for the flute, I think. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: GUEST,catherine Stewart Date: 18 Dec 12 - 08:32 AM This song was composed by the late Brian Stewart , nephew to Ailidh Dall |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: sheila Date: 18 Dec 12 - 05:03 PM The connection to Ailidh Dall makes sense - the song describes the route(s) of the Summer Walkers. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: GUEST Date: 05 Aug 16 - 01:46 PM |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: Jack Campin Date: 05 Aug 16 - 02:06 PM There are a couple of recordings of this, from the 1950s, on http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/ |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: GUEST Date: 06 Aug 16 - 10:20 AM the link from Craig Cockburn same air - song of emigration and longing for a loved one GAD CHUIMNEACHADH (Remembering You)by Dòmhnall Ailig Dòmhnallach * http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/tbh/aigcridhearciuil/facail/gaol/page09.shtml (sound file included, singer Pòl Mac Caluim) Mi 'm shuidhe an seo gad chuimhneachadh a mhaighdeann aoidheil chiùin Gu bheil mi sgìth den t-saoghal seo bho chuir thu rium do chùl Ged dh'fhalbhainn às an dùthaich seo a-null gu tìrean cèin Gum bi mo chrìdh' ri bualadh airson gruagach a' chùil-rèidh. Ged dhealaich sinn an-dràsta cha b' e d' fhàgail bha nam mhiann Thug fear eile làmh dhut mun do ràinig mis' thu riamh 'S an cridh' tha cruaidh mar iarainn ged bu mhiann leis bhith ort dlùth Cha bhrist e chaoidh son bòidhchead nìghneag òg na sùilean ciùin. Carson a bhios mi cuimhneachadh na h-oidhcheannan a bh' ann An-diugh nan adhbhar chianalais gur iad a liath mo cheann 'S ged 's toigh leam a bhith smaoineachadh gu faodainn bhith ort teann Tha h-uile nì cho caochlaideach san t-saoghal bhochd a th' ann. 'S an dùrachd tha mi 'n-dràst' toirt dhut a rìbhinn àlainn chiùin Gum faigh thu fear nas fheàrr na mi a sheinneas àrd do chliù Is cha bhi fios gu bràth agad gun tug mi gràdh dhut rùin 'S ged bhiodh tu daonnan làimh rium cha bhi fios aig càch co thu. Ach feumaidh mi co-dhùnadh chan eil ùin' ann son a' chòrr Chan eil ann ach faoineas dhomh bhith caoineadh son do sheòrs' Ach molaidh mi gu bràth thu son do nàdar blàth gun ghò Is nuair thig crìoch do làithean gum bidh àite dhut an glòir. lyrics with translation also at http://celticlyricscorner.net/cormack/gad.htm http://www.apjpublications.co.uk/skye/poetry/poets8.htm 'Mi 'm shuidh' an seo gad chuimhneachadh'. Orain an Eilein. Cairistiona Mhàrtainn. An t-Eilean Sgiatheanach**: Taigh nan Teud, 2001, pp. 73.. "A sad song of unrequited love. Six eight-line verses. A note (p. 126) states that it was composed by a Dòmhnallach of Kensaleyre for Raonaid Ròs of Marishader. Words and tune are from Eòin Dòmhnallach." so I'm not sure how the poet has been identified as a specific Dómhnallach (aka Mac Dhòmhnaill), Dómhnall Ailig ** the winged isle, the Isle of Skye |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Waters of Kylesku From: Jack Campin Date: 06 Aug 16 - 10:38 AM If "sheila" (Sheila Stewart?) was right, it would have been in English (or just conceivably Beurla-reagaird) first and the Gaelic would be an adaptation. |
Subject: RE: Waters of Kylesku & Gad Chuimhneachadh From: Felipa Date: 06 Aug 16 - 02:16 PM the lyrics of Gad Chuimhneachadh and Waters of Kyleschu are completely different Jack; it's just the tunes are the same. If there is a Gaelic adaptation of Waters of Kyleschu, this isn't it. I dont think either set of lyrics are terribly old however. According to one webpage I saw, Hamish Henderson heard the Kyleschu song from Essie Stewart, teenage niece of Brian Stewart. The notes said Brian put the words to the tune of Gad Chuimhneachadh, infering that he was familiar with that song (but I suppose it is possible both poets independently put lyrics to the same pipe tune) I've also seen the tune of Gad Chuimhneachadh attributed to Archie Grant, born 1902. And the biography says that Archie composed tunes for other people's lyrics and that he copyrighted the tune of "Gad Chuimneachadh"https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/archie-grant/ Callum Kennedy recorded both Kyleschu and Gad Chuimhneachadh youtube video with lyrics and translation overlaid English language translation from http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/cormack/gad.htm I'm sitting here remembering you Peaceful, pleasant girl I'm weary of this world Since you turned your back on me And though I'd go forth from this land To foreign countries My heart would still beat For the girl of the smooth tresses Although we're parted now Leaving you was not my desire Another man gave you his hand Before I ever reached you And the heart, hard like iron Though it longs to be near you Will never break for beauty's sake Young girl of the serene eyes Why do I remember The nights that are gone? Today, they are a reason for homesickness They have turned my hair gray And though I like to think That I could be close to you Everything is so changeable In this poor world And the good wishes I'm sending you now Beautiful, peaceful maiden Are that you will have a better man Who will sing your praises And you will never know That I gave my love to you secretly And though you would always be near me Others would not know who you were. But I must conclude There is no time for any more It is only foolishness for me To be mourning your like But I will praise you forever For your warm, faultless nature And when your days come to an end There will be a place for you in heaven |
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