Origins: Westering Home (Hugh Roberton)

Subject: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From:
Date: 07 Apr 97 - 09:46 PM

Could someone please give me the lyrics to :

Westering home and a song in the air,
Light in the eye and its goodbye to care,
Laughter o' love and a welcoming there,
Isle of my heart, my ain one.

Oh where are the folks like the folks of the west
Kindly and ..... and always the best,
there I will hae me and there I will rest
back hame with me ain folks in Islay

I've forgotten the nest verses if someone could please help me?

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Teru
Date: 08 Apr 97 - 05:10 AM

You can find the lyrics somewhere on the INTERNET.

If you cannot, I'll write them here.

With regards

Teru

Subject: Lyr Add: WESTERING HOME (Hugh S. Roberton)
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 08 Apr 97 - 07:06 AM

WESTERING HOME

CHORUS And it’s Westering home, and a song in the air,
Light in the eye, and it’s goodbye to care.
Laughter o’ love, and a welcoming there,
Isle of my heart, my own one.

Tell me o’ lands o’ the Orient gay,
Speak o’ the riches and joys o’ Cathay;
Eh, but it’s grand to be wakin’ ilk day
To find yourself nearer to Isla.

CHORUS

Where are the folk like the folk o’ the west?
Canty, and couthy, and kindly, the best.
There I would hie me and there I would rest
At hame wi’ my ain folk in Isla.

CHORUS

^^^

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Bobby O'Brien
Date: 08 Apr 97 - 08:41 AM

Recorded in the early 1990's by Declan Nerney in Ireland, on the CD/tape "Declan Nerney's Favourites". Also record- ed in gaelic in 1977 by John Kerr (also Ireland) on the lp/cassette "My 14 Irish Requests".

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Teru
Date: 08 Apr 97 - 07:45 PM

Bobby,

Is the song Irish? I think it's Scottish.

Sincerely,

Teru

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Bobby O'Brien
Date: 09 Apr 97 - 07:41 AM

Gee, good question! haha

It has appeared on Irish albums that didnot include other Scottish songs.

But then, the Irish stole "Loch Lomond" and changed it to "Red is the Rose", and we completely robbed the Scots of "Dark Island" (...In the years long ago when I first left my home...)

We're thieves who claim everything we sing as our own :-)

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Anne Cormack
Date: 19 Apr 97 - 09:21 AM

Westering Home is most definitely a Scottish song, the island that is mentioned is Islay,which is in the Hebrides off the north-west coast of Scotland - incidentally they make a very fine whisky too!!! The words were written by Hugh S. Robertson (1874 - 1952). The tune is partly "Bonny Strathyre", while the chorus was taken from the singing of Donald McIsaac. Robertson was knighted for his services to music in 1931.

Regards

Anne

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From:
Date: 20 Apr 97 - 01:44 AM

A wee correction-- it's Hugh S. Roberton (no S, oddly enough). I must say it bothers me no end when I see his songs published or recorded without any acknowledgement of the author. This goes for a good few songs, somehow:a lot of groups seem to think that if they hear a song that sounds traditional, it's "folk", ergo in public domain, and so fair game. Actually I'm bothered even when the song (or tune) is umpteen years old, like the great compositions of Scott Skinner. This topic, though, really belongs on another thread, I suppose. -- Murray.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Apr 97 - 12:06 PM

Interestin'. I'va always considered the tune as essentially the same as the Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre---also known (in American Revolutiaonary times as The Scotch Watch.

And thanx, Murray, for the attribution.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Teru
Date: 21 Apr 97 - 01:40 AM

Well, I like this kind of discussion. Without my initial question on 8th April, this discussion could not have been brought up.

I was rewarded!

Thanks everybody

Teru

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Teru
Date: 21 Apr 97 - 08:17 PM

Anne,

I understand Weatering Home is absolutely a Scottish song. I have a wee question.

As far as I know, in medieval Scotland, Islay, together with Outer and Inner Hebrides, had belonged to Kingdom of the Isles until 1265. However, nowadays, Islay, as well as Jura, Mull, Tiree and Coll, is included in Strathclyde, while Skye, Rhum and Eigg are in Highland. The Outer Hebrides are now called Weatern Isles.

Is Islay in the Hebrides as you wrote? What islands are included in the Inner Hebrides?

I suppose Skye, Rhum and Eigg must be, and Coll, Tiree and Mull may be. Jura and Ilay are a bit far from these islands.

Is there any definition of the Hebrides?

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From:
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:31 PM

I was just noticing that this thread listed Hugh Roberton as the author of this song. Any confirmations? It doesn't seem to have been added to the information in the lyrics in this file. Was it because it was unconfirmed?

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: GUEST, Bob Bolton('s other computer)
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 06:35 AM

G'day all and any,

I must have missed this first time around ... One surprise on reading through was Dick Greenhaus's observation of the relationship of this tune to The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre.

In ~37 years of playing The Muckin' O' Geordie's Byre, I had never played it slow enough to hear what it sounded like as a waltz instead of as a double jig: Dick Greenhaus must get to sessions not driven by manic Irish Fiddlers!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From:
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 10:51 AM

Bob, you might be right. I've seen it marked as Westering Home (Tune Mucking o' Geordie's Byre) for many years, so it wasn't a surprise. What was to me is the information on Hugh Roberton's involvement.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Troll
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 11:07 AM

When I first heard Westering Home, I thought that it was too short so I wrote a third verse which I sing whenever I perform the song.

Rolling along through the grey Irish Sea,
Ireland to windward and Man on our lee,
Up on the foredeck it's there that I'll be,
Awaitin' my first glimpse of Islay.

ch.

troll

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Bert
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 11:23 AM

Nice verse troll.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: GUEST,hugh
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 06:16 PM

westering home has arrangements for 4 part choirs. I'm told teh author was very keen people breathed in the right place so the sheet music also has these marked. Anyone got chords?

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: WESTERING HOME
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 06:36 PM

This is the chords that work for me
WESTERING HOME

Chorus
[G ]Westering home with a song in [D] the [G] air,
With a [C] light in the [G] eye, And its [Am] goodbye to [D] care,
[G]Laughter of love, And a [Em]welcoming [G] there,
Isle of my heart [D] my own [G] one,

[G}Tell me of lands of the [Am] Orient [G] gay,
Sing of the riches, And [Am] joys of Cath-[D]-ay,
[G]Aye but its grand, To be [Am] wa'kin' this [D] day,
[G] And find myself nearer [D] to Is-[G]-la,
Chorus

Where are the folk like the folk o' the west
Canty and couthie, And kindly the best,
There I will hie me, And there I will rest,
At hame wi' my ain folk in Isla,

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 06:44 PM

Correction Last line of 1st verse ...[G]Isla

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 07:15 PM

Troll, it'll be a few hours won't it?Go below and have a kip

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Mrrzy
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:18 AM

I know what kindly is, but what are canty and coothie?

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: MMario
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:32 AM

Merriem Webster says they are respectively cheerful and pleasant.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:23 AM

Couthie/y is pretty much the opposite of Un-couth-y

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Willa
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 03:23 PM

Subject: Glossary of Scottish Words From: John in Brisbane cantie / canty cheerful+ happy couthie /couthy agreeable+ comfortable, affable

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: GUEST,Scabby Doug (without a cookie)
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 03:46 PM

I find the Mudcat a focus of much synchronicity. Last night, (Saturday) I was listening to the McCalmans singing this.... Nice to see them again, and Stephen Quigg is settling in nicely....

CHeers

Steven

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 05:06 PM

My good friend Adam Stewart, rest his soul, always used to sing a Gaelic version after he had knocked back a goodly amount of the water of life. And then swear the next day that he knew not one word of Gaelic! He then used to announce it as the 'Wet String song'.

Knock. Knock.
Who's there?
Wet string.
Wet string who?
Wet string home wi' a song in the air.

Sorry...

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Teru
Date: 17 May 02 - 07:42 AM

SCOTTISH OR IRISH ?

Westering Home is definitely a Scottish song. However, I have a CD "THE IRISH TENORS-ELLIS ISLAND" (Music Matters, 2001) in which Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Finbar Wright sing Trasna Na Dtonna (Over the Waves) in Irish language. Its tune is similar to, or almost same as that of "Westering Home". The song is included in "Iish Medley". Yes, the Irish changed the song to their own one.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From:
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 10:37 AM

Subject: Lyr Add: Trasna na dTonnta
From: Declan
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 11:26 AM

A lot of Irish Gaelic songs were written to the tunes of Scottish songs. Trasna na nDonnta is one such song, written to the air of Westering Home. The Gaelic version is attributed to Tomás Tóibín in Amhránleabhar Ógra Éireann. The lyrics, which express the same sentiments as Westering Home, but are not a direct translation, are as follows :

                Chorus :
Trasna na dtonnta, dul siar, dul siar
Slán leis an uaigneas is slán leis an gcian,
Geal é mo chroí, agus geal í an ghrian,
Geal bheith ag filleadh go hÉireann.

Chonac mo dhóthain de thíortha i gcéin,
Ór agus airgead, saibhreas an tsaoil,
Éiríonn an croí 'nam le breacadh gach lae
'S me ag druidim le dúthaigh mo mhuintir

                Chorus

Muintear an Iarthair 'siad cáirde mo chroí,
Fáilte is féile beidh romham ar gach taobh.
Ag fágaint an tsaoil seo, 'sé guidhim ar an Rí,
Gur leosan a sínfear i gcill mé

                Chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: allanwill
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 11:34 AM

Vera Lynn does a song called "Travelling Home" which uses the same tune as Westering Home. I think the best version I've heard Of WH is The Corries.

Allan

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 09:53 PM

This song in scottish Gaelic is "Eilean Mo Chridhe".
The isle being sung about in Gaelic is Skye.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Boab
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 01:54 AM

I wasn't aware that Sir Hugh Roberton was credited with "Westering Home". Not surprised, though, he was a clever songwriter and spent many years leading the Glasgow Orpheus Choir.Another of his compositions, I believe, was "All in an April Evening"--and isn't 'the Mingulay Boat song" from his pen?

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Strupag
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 03:13 AM

Boab, if the original Mingulay Boat song was written by Hugh Roberton, then he must have been a few hundred years old when he did it.
Na it's one of these songs which has been taken from the tradition and sort of sanitised for choral use, probably in this case by Marjory Kennedy Fraser.
MJF maintained that she was saving songs which would otherwise be lost but it is interesting to note that none of the original songs that she changed have been lost to the tradition in their original form.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Jim McLean
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 06:43 AM

I seem to remember there was a court action against Vera Lynn as Travelling Home was deemed to be Westering Home and belonged to Hugh S Roberton's estate.
Jim McLean

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: IanC
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 07:07 AM

Strupag

You're quite wrong, thought the tune is older. The DT attribution has got it right for once. Look at some of the threads about the Mingulay song for more details.

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Declan
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 07:16 AM

We robbed that one as well! An Irish version was known as the Dingle Bay boat song.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: Strupag
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 01:22 PM

Yer right Ian C, and sorry Boab.
I must have been half asleep because the song that I was thinking was "Eriskay Love Lilt"
Mind you if ever a song illustrated the point I was making it is this one.
If you listen to the MJF version and then listen to Capercaille or Ishbel MacAskill do the original version you wonder why anyone would try to improve on perfection.

Subject: RE: Eilean mo Chridhe
From: Felipa
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 01:24 PM

Eilean mo Chridh' (mentioned by Sandy)

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Dec 03 - 01:58 PM

sorry to say this but you need to have the words to DARK ISLAND and in scottish and in english version

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Westering home and a song in the air
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 06:51 AM

for the Irish language translation, Trasna na dTonnta, you can listen to Na Casaidigh album "Singing from Memory". I came across the album lyrics at http://www.geocities.com/celticlyricscorner/cassidys/singing.htm

Subject: Lyr Add: TRASNA NA DTONNA
From:
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 04:57 PM

I found more verses for Trasna na Dtonna athttp://users.bigpond.net.au/kirwilli/songs/Trasna%20.htm

TRASNA NA DTONNA

Trasna na dtonnta dul siar dul siar,
Slán leis an uaigneas is slán leis an gcian,
Geal é mo chro´ agus geal í an ghrian,
Geal 'bheith ag filleadh go hÉirinn.

Chonaic mo dhóthain de thiortha i gcéin,
Ór agus airgead, saibhreas an tsaoil,
Éirionn an croí 'nam le breacadh gach lae,
'S mé ag druidim le dúthaigh mo mhuintir.

Agus trasna na dtonnta dul siar dul siar,
Slán leis an uaigneas is slán leis an gcian,
Geal é mo chroí agus geal í an ghrian,
Geal 'bheith ag filleadh go hÉirinn.

Muintir ar larthair 's iad cairde mo chroí,
Fáilte is féile beidh romham ar gach taobh,
Ar fhágaint an tsaoil seo 's é a ghuím ar an Rí,
Gur leosan a shínfear i gcill mé.

Agus trasna na dtonnta dul siar dul siar,
Slán leis an uaigneas is slán leis an gcian,
Geal é mo chroí agus geal í an ghrian,
Geal 'bheith ag filleadh go hÉirinn.

Subject: looking for irish music demos on cds
From: GUEST,mike sullivan from boston usa
Date: 30 Dec 04 - 10:08 AM

part time disc jockey in boston usa. i do from private parties to once in awhile a pub. looking for irish music on demos on cds from any irish band, that would like to post me cds?

Mike Sullivan
email [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From:
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 01:48 AM

I know and love this song but am not sure of the meaning of it. Has the singer been in the orient and returning to Islay, perhaps with a Westerly breeze to help them along or has he been on the mainland and returning westward to Islay?
Sheila

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From: jacqui.c
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 06:44 AM

I always thought that this one was about returning from the Orient to the isles. That's what the song says to me anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 02:01 PM

Vera Lynn recorded 'Travelling Home' round about 1957. The Estate of Sir Hugh Roberton sued for breach of his copyright in 'Westering Hame' and, as I recall, LOST, because the defendant record company was able to produce the old bloke who taught Sir Hugh the tune!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From: Boab
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 11:52 PM

Surely the songster was westering home to Islay from the Scottish mainland?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From: GUEST,Neville D'Herville
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 02:15 AM

Please can you find me a cd with vera lynn version of westering home callled travelling home

Regards Neville D'Herville
67 Golf Road Nelson New Zealand

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From: Peace
Date: 25 Dec 06 - 02:58 AM

The correct title is "Travellin' Home" and it is on 'Vera Lynn: The Decca Years 1936-60 and it's a box set.

Here.


You should be able to order it through any record/CD store. Best of luck with it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From: Peace
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 12:10 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Westering Home
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 26 Dec 06 - 08:34 AM

Notes at the back of one of my Scottish song books: "Westering Home"; words by Hugh S Roberton (1874-1952), who, together with Marjory Kennedy- Fraser and Granville Bantock collected and arranged may Hebridean tunes and songs..............The tune seems to be partly "Bonnie Strathyre", while the chorus was taken from the singing of Donald McIsaac. (Oops, I see Anne C put much the same!)
As for "Bonnie Strathyre", notes in "Songs of the North Vol 1" say the tune was adapted from an old air called "Taymouth", and arranged by Malcolm Lawson, words by Harold Boulton. .........but someone will probably tell me (Ian C has said this already)there's an older version still!!
Picking up on 2 previous postings:
"Islay makes A fine whisky"........well, they actually make dozens of fine whiskies, all with their own character! Maybe more distilleries per square inch than anywhere else in Scotland, except maybe Speyside!
HEBRIDES: Islay is not really in the NORTH-West of Scotland: it's on almost the same latitude as Glasgow and Edinburgh! Calmac (the ferry service to the "Western Isles") divides the islands as follows:
Clyde islands: Arran, Rothesay, Bute.
Southern Hebrides: Islay, Jura and Colonsay/Oronsay
Inner Hebrides: Mull, Iona, Coll, Tiree, Staffa (? also Ardnamurchan peninsula)
Skye, Raasay and the Small Isles(Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna) - I would include these in the Inner Hebrides.
Outer Hebrides(all those west of the Minch): Barra, Eriskay, The Uists, Benbecula, Taransay, Berneray,Mingulay, Pabbay, Harris, Lewis.
Oh, and a long way further out still........the St Kilda (Hirta) group.
And finally, The McCalman's version: very nice but why change "there I would hie me" to "there I would lie me"??
Happy Boxing Day!
TB