Subject: Lyr Add: I HAVE SEEN THE HIGHLANDS (Matt McGinn) From: EllenV Date: 19 Jan 11 - 08:46 PM I'm not positive who wrote this song, but it's been recorded (under this name or the Anglicized "I Have Seen the Highlands") by three artists that I know of: The McCallums, Matt McGinn, and Charlie Zahm. It's a tremendous song -- as far as I can tell, authorship credits go to Matt McGinn, although I think these words (transcribed from CZ's version) differ somewhat from the original. I HAE SEEN THE HIGHLANDS (Matt McGinn?) 1. I was born and bred in Scotland In a Glasgow tenement And when people spoke of my bonny land I didn't know what they meant But then I took to travel And I roamed far and wide And now when I sing of my native land I sing with love and pride CHORUS: I hae seen the hielands I hae seen the low And I will sing of my native land Wherever I may go 2. Oh, Nature took the tantrum In many an age gone by To add to all of her wondrous works She thought she'd have a try She toiled and she thundered She rumbled and she roared She made the hielands of Scotland The glory of the world 3. Oh, strolling down by Oban Rolling down by Perth On the rugged coast of Argyllshire finds The finest place on earth Go ramblin' in the Cuillins See Ben Lomond in the mist On the lovely island of Mulla Hear the songbird at its best 4. And now that I am older My children long since gone I've sung to them of our glory days As golden as the dawn And when my years are over And my final breath has passed I'll ask for only my hieland hame Where I'll take my rest |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Hae Seen the Hielands From: EllenV Date: 19 Jan 11 - 08:52 PM I should add that it's apparently not very well-known (which is definitely unfortunate). |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Hae Seen the Hielands From: GUEST,Allan Conn Date: 20 Jan 11 - 04:18 AM I occassionally do the song at our club. It was written by Matt McGinn. Because I live in the Borders it is much more common to hear his "Rolling Hills Of The Borders" at local sessions. http://www.mattmcginn.info/ The link has a few of his songs on it some by hom and some by other singers |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: GUEST,Reiver 2 Date: 22 May 13 - 06:31 PM Forgive me for not responding before now. Circumstances intervened. But I thank you for posting these lyrics!! They are, indeed, the ones I was looking for, |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: GUEST,Tattie Bogle Date: 23 May 13 - 11:58 AM As the original poster says, these may not be the original words. The 4th verse as quoted here rings no bells at all with me, and the one I partly remember is totally different. Can't access the lyrics right now but will post later |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: Art Thieme Date: 23 May 13 - 03:57 PM I, too, appreciate seeing these words again, A long time ago I taped it from folk radio in Chicago as sung by McGinn. Many more should hear it. A great tune he put it to. Art Thieme |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: GUEST Date: 23 May 13 - 09:09 PM The 4th verse as is more usually sung below. And there are some radically changed words in some of the other verses too, so I'll post the full set later. The Irish and the English, the African and the Turk, In a world of joy and of harmony together we must work, On the shores of foreign brothers, we'll lay no robber's hand, And all we ask is to toil and live in our own native land. As relevant today as when it was written! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: GUEST,Tattie Bogle Date: 23 May 13 - 09:16 PM Sorry that was me, away from home sans cookie, limited tech so can't give you links at present, but you can hear Matt McGinn himself singing this on YouTube, with full set of lyrics below the screen! |
Subject: Lyr Add: I HAVE SEEN THE HIGHLANDS (Matt McGinn) From: Jim Dixon Date: 28 May 13 - 12:36 PM My transcription. I have boldfaced the words that are different from the ones given above. I HAVE SEEN THE HIGHLANDS As sung by Matt McGinn on "The Best of" 1. I was born and bred in Glasgow in a Gallowgate tenement. When people spoke of my bonny land, I didn't know what they meant. But then I took to travel; I roved far and wide, And now when I speak of my native land, I speak with love and pride. For— CHORUS: I have seen the Hielands; I have seen the low, And I will brag of my native land wherever I may go. 2. Old nature took a tantrum many's an age gone by. To outdo all of her wondrous works she thought she'd have a try. She toiled and she thundered she rumbled and she rolled. She made the Hielands of Scotland, then she threw away the mould. 3. Come ramblin' up by Oban, strolling down by Perth. In the rugged hills of Argyllshire find the sweetest place on earth. Go gazing by the Cuillins; see the Lomond in the mist. In the lovely island of Muile hear the songbird at his best 4. With the Irish and the English, the African and Turk, For our world of joy and of harmony together we will work, On the shores of foreign brothers, we'll lay no robber's hand, And all we wish is to toil and live in our own native land. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: Tattie Bogle Date: 28 May 13 - 08:02 PM Very similar to what I know of it Jim: now I'm back home here are the lyrics as they appear in the "McGinn of the Calton" Songbook: a few minor differences and a wee bit mair Scots in it! I HAE SEEN THE HIELANDS I was born in dear old Glasgow, in a Glasgow tenement When people spoke of my bonny land I didn't know what they meant. But then I took to travel, I moved far and wide Now when I speak of my native land, I speak with loving pride CHORUS: For I hae seen the hielands, I hae seen the low And I will brag o' my native land Wherever I may go 2. Oh, Nature took the tantrum In many an age gone by To add to all of her wondrous works She thought she'd have a try She toiled and she thundered She rumbled and she roared She made the hielands of Scotland The glory of the world 3. Oh, strolling down by Oban Rolling down by Perth On the rugged coast of Argyllshire finds The finest place on earth Go ramblin' in the Cuillins See Ben Lomond in the mist On the lovely island of Mulla Hear the songbird at its best |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: Tattie Bogle Date: 28 May 13 - 08:23 PM Oh B#ll#cks, must have hit submit somehow before I'd finished editing! Try again!(This time I'll edit in Word and paste back!) I HAE SEEN THE HIELANDS MATT McGINN I was born in dear old Glasgow in a Gallowgate tenement When people spoke of my bonny land I didn't know what they meant But then I took to travel, I moved far and wide, Now when I speak of my native land I speak with loving pride CHORUS: I hae seen the Hielands, I hae seen the low, And I will brag o' my native land wherever I may go Old Nature took a tantrum, many's the age gone by To outdo all of her wondrous works she thought she'd hae a try She toiled and she thundered, she rumbled and she rolled She made the Hielands o' Scotland then she threw away the mould. CHORUS Come rambling up by Oban, strolling down by Perth, In the rugged hills o' Argyllshire find the sweetest place on earth Go gazin' by the Cuillins, see the Lomond in the mist In the lovely island of Moula hear the songbird at its best. CHORUS The Irish and the English, the African and the Turk, For a world of joy and harmony together we will work, On the shore of foreign brothers we'll lay no robber's hand, And all we wish is to toil and work in our own native land. CHORUS Jim, I accept that there may well be differences as Matt was renowned for never doing quite the same twice over! And anyone who ventured to accompany him might have quite a hard time as he stopped in mid-song then resumed in another key! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I Have Seen the Highlands (Matt McGinn) From: GUEST Date: 20 Sep 19 - 10:15 AM Does anyone have a tabulation for the whistle descant in this song? Thanks! |
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