Lyr Req: Scotland Yet (from Davy Steele)

Subject: Lyr Add: SCOTLAND YET (Davy Steele)
From: Chastings
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 04:09 PM

Hi everyone,

I am really keen to sing this song but can't find the lyrics! I have had a go at transcribing them from the album, but I'm unsure in a couple of places. Would anyone be willing to help me out and see if I might have misheard any of it? Here's how I got on...

Gie noo a thocht o what we hae in this land o the leal
The Heilan glen the Doric stream, the fertile lowland field
They seem tae offer different views when looked at from within
Can strangers be the only eyes, tae see us a' as yin

Chorus:
The choice will be upon us soon, tae set oor destiny
An we'll drink a toast tae Scotland yet, whatever yet may be

Oor mother tongue spoke different ways that pass tae present ties
Each separate and yet entwined is where oor real strength lies
For should one strand unwind itself the others tae forsake
Then a' would be forever lost for a' the strands would break

While we still seek tae blame oor woes an pains on someone else
We'll never have the strength tae solve oor problems for ourselves
In truth we fought each other mair, learn this from oor past
Then together we can choose for ourselves at last.

...The places I am most unsure are V2 lines 1 and 3.

Thanks,

Claire

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: Gutcher
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 05:07 PM

An interesting modern take on an auld sang. When I can get the fingers into top gear I will give the original. {I should say finger}
Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 05:18 PM

Ah right, I havn't investigated yet and just assumed he wrote it! So it comes from a trad song? Thanks!

Claire

Subject: ADD Version: Scotland Yet (Riddell/McLeod)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 07:17 PM

As it appears in "Lyric Gems of Scotland" (undated, late 19th century){

SCOTLAND YET
Written by Henry S. Riddell
Music by Peter McLeod

This song, with Mr McLeod's much admired music, to which it is set, was first published by him in a separate sheet, and the profits given for the purpose of putting a parapet and railing round the Monument of Burns on the Calton Hill, Edinburgh.

Gae, bring my guid auld harp ance mair,
Gae, bring it free and fast;
For I maun sing anither sang
Ere a' my glee be past.
And trow ye as I sing, my lads,
The burden o't shall be,
Auld Scotland's howes, and Scotland's knowes,
And Scotland's hills for me;
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi' a' the honours three.

The heath waves wild upon her hills,
And foaming frae the fells,
Her fountains sing o' freedom still
As they dance down the dells.
And weel I lo'e the land, my lads,
That's girded by the sea;
Then Scotland's dales, and Scotland's vales,
And Scotland's hills for me;
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi' a' the honours three.

The thistle wags upon the fields
Where Wallace bore his blade,
That gave her foemen's dearest bluid
To die her auld grey plaid.
And looking to the lift, my lads,
He sang this doughty glee,
Auld Scotland's right, and Scotland's might,
And Scotland's hills for me;
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi' a' the honours three.

Burns Monument
19th century image (with those railings, 1840)
spectacular 19th century postcard view of the monument's setting
stereo images here
funds appeal, 2008
Wikipedia on Riddell, with portrait

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: Gutcher
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 07:43 PM

Thats the one Jack.

Verse 4.

They tell o lands wi brichter skies
Whaur freedoms voice ne"er rang
Gie me the hills whaur Ossian dwalt
And Coila"s minstrel sang
For I"ve nae skill o lands my lads
That ken na tae be free
Then Scotland"s richt and Scotland"s micht
And Scotland"s hills for me
We"ll drink a cup tae Scotland yet
Wi a the honours three

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 08:01 PM

Aargh. The page layout made it look like it stopped after verse 3 (and it didn't exactly leave me on the edge of my seat wanting more). Turn the page, and there verse 4 is.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 10:52 AM

SCOTLAND YET—the one Jack Campin posted—appears in Poems, Songs and Miscellaneous Pieces by Henry Scott Riddell (Edinburgh: Sutherland and Knox, 1857), page 275.

There are numerous small differences in spelling and punctuation, but only one difference in actual words, in verse 4:

Gie me the hills whaur Ossian dwalt lies

*

Other than the title and metric structure, I don't see any connection to the lyric in the first message of this thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: Gutcher
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 04:23 PM

The connection lies in the sentiments expressed by H.S.R. and the perception D.S. has of what the Scots should aspire to in a 20th C.
context. I imagine D.S. composed his song in the 1970s and I am sure
he knew the H.S.R. song, widely known to folk of my generation.
Joe.

Subject: ADD Version: Scotland Yet (Riddell/McLeod)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 01:06 AM

http://www.rampantscotland.com has the entire text:

Here is a toast to Scotland by Henry Scott Riddell (1798-1870), a native of Sorbie, north of Langholm, Dumfries & Galloway. His parents both came from Teviotside. He later became a minister there and wrote "Scotland Yet" while out for a walk in a lonely glen at Teviothead.

SCOTLAND YET

Gae bring my guid auld harp aince mair;
Gae bring it free and fast,
For I maun sing anither sang
Ere a' my glee be past:
And trow ye as I sing my lads,
The burthen o't shall be -
Auld Scotland's howes and Scotland's knowes,
And Scotland's hills for me!
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi a' the honours three!

The heath waves wild upon her hills,
Her foaming frae the fells,
Her fountains sing o' freedom still,
As they dance down the dells.
And weel I loe the land, my lads,
That's girded by the sea.
Then Scotland's vales, and Scotland's dales,
And Scotland's hills for me;
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi a' the honours three!

The thistle wags upon the fields
Where Wallace bore his blade,
That her foeman's dearest build
To dye her auld grey plaid:
And looking to the lift my lads,
He sang in doughty glee -
"Auld Scotland's right, and Scotland's might,
And Scotland's hills for me;"
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi' a' the honours three!

They tell o' lands wi' brighter skies,
Where freedom's voices ne're rang;
Gie me the hills where Ossian lies,
And Coila's minstrel sang,
That ken na to be free.
Then Scotland's right, and Scotland's might,
And Scotland's hills for me;"
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi' a' the honours three!

Meaning of unusual words:
Gae=go
aince=once
glee=joy
trow=know
howes and knowes=hollows and hills
heath=heather
lo'e=love

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 04:59 AM

What were the differences between the Rampant Scotland version and the one from "Lyric Gems"? I can't see them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet - Davy Steele
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Nov 10 - 03:39 PM

Thanks for the photos Jack....very interesting!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet (from Davy Steele)
From: GUEST,Patsy Seddon
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 08:02 AM

Hi Joe Can you tell what old song you think Davy's is based on - I've never heard that.Thanks Patsy (Davy's widow)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet (from Davy Steele)
From: GUEST,Kenny Jamieson
Date: 11 Dec 17 - 05:16 AM

Davy Steele wrote Scotland yet and it has nothing to do with the older version, completely different words and completely different tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Scotland Yet (from Davy Steele)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Dec 17 - 03:38 PM

I found lyrics to SCOTLAND YET at Davy Steele's son's website: DavidJSteele.wordpress.com, and I also listened to the recording. I have only one correction to make to the lyrics posted by Chastings at the beginning of this thread:

In verse 2 line 1:
Oor mither tongue spoke different weys, that past tae present ties....