Tune Req: songs about the northern lights

Subject: Northern Lights
From: WyoWoman
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 04:58 PM

I saw the Northern Lights Friday early a.m. from my backyard and it started me wondering: Does anyone know any songs about the Northern Lights other than "Nightrider's Lament?"

WyoWoman, star-gazing

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: Freddie Fox
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 06:02 PM

Now, there's a queation. There was song in the cahrts a few years ago actually entitled 'Northern Lights', but although I could probaly hum a bit of it if very drunk, I'm blowed if I can remember the words or even who it was by. Not very helpful! Does this ring bells with anyone else?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: McKnees
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 07:58 PM

WW you're so luck that is one of the things from my wishlist is to see the northern lights but the only song I can think of starts off with these words

The northern lights of old Aberdeen mean home sweet home to me. The northern lights of Aberdeen are where I long to be. But that's all I can remember. Sorry McKnees

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 08:06 PM

I don't know any songs, but Robert Service had this lovely stanza in the 'Shooting of Dan McGrew':

Were you ever out the Great Alone when the moon was awful clear
And the icy mountains hemmed you in with a silence you most could hear;
With only the howl of a timber wolf, and you camped there in the cold,
A half-dead thing in a stark dead world, clean made for the muck called gold;
While high overhead, green, yellow and red, the North Lights swept in bars
Then you've a hunch what the music meant ... hunger and night and the stars.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: bbelle
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 08:22 PM

WW ... there's a folk duo in Alaska called "Joanne & Monty" and I'm sure they have some songs re northern lights. One of the things I miss most about Fairbanks is the northern lights ... they were so ethereal and breathtaking ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: Julie Batten - Australia
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 09:13 PM

Hello Everybody, There is a song called "The Northern Lights of Aberdeen" I remember it from when I was little, it was the first song I used to play on the button accordion!

When I was a lad, a tiny wee lad, my father said to me come see the northern lights my boy they're bright as they can be they call them the heavenly dancers many dancers in the sky I'll never forget that wonderful sight, they made the heavens bright

the northern lights of old aberdeen mean home sweet home to me the northern lights of aberdeen are what I long to see I've been a wanderer all of my life and many a sight I've seen god speed the day when I'm on my way to my home in Aberdeen

I can't remember the other verse though!

Catcha later!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: Julie Batten - Australia
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 09:13 PM

Hello Everybody, There is a song called "The Northern Lights of Aberdeen" I remember it from when I was little, it was the first song I used to play on the button accordion!

When I was a lad, a tiny wee lad, my father said to me come see the northern lights my boy they're bright as they can be they call them the heavenly dancers many dancers in the sky I'll never forget that wonderful sight, they made the heavens bright

the northern lights of old aberdeen mean home sweet home to me the northern lights of aberdeen are what I long to see I've been a wanderer all of my life and many a sight I've seen god speed the day when I'm on my way to my home in Aberdeen

I can't remember the other verse though!

Catcha later!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: McKnees
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 04:04 AM

Its on this data base just search by putting in Aberdeen and its about the 5th or 6th option... McKnees

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 06:42 AM

Here's a link to a previous thread which contains the various verses to Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen...you'll need to piece together from the various posts, but there aren't that many.

thread

SingsIrish Songs

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: skarpi
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 08:26 AM

WW I know this a long shut but we have a song(s) about northern lights here in Iceland. I am not sure about you sing Icelandic but anyway if you want to get them let me know, I have already send one Icelandic folk cd to Mick Lane. I see the lights when ever the sky is clear and it is fantastic seen. All the best to you in Wyoming. Skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: WyoWoman
Date: 24 Oct 99 - 01:52 PM

Dear Skarpi, I'd LOVE to hear your Icelandic folk CD, even if I don't understand the words. I'll send you an email and discuss the details.

We don't get the NOrthern Lights regularly here as they probably do in Iceland or Alaska, but when conditions are just right, we do get them, and a couple of times they've been simply breathtaking. I've told the planetarium manager here to call me at any time of the night when she sees the lights, and a few of the people I work with have asked me to call them. (They say so now, but I honestly wonder if they'll mean it at 3 in the a.m. on some winter's day???) I wish everyone could have a chance to see them ...

Stewie -- I love that verse. I wonder if anyone's made it into a song?

And I'll try to find someplace to hear the tune to the "Old Aberdeen" song. I found the words in Digital Tradition, but don't know what it sounds like.

Thanks to all of you, WW

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Northern Lights
From: WyoWoman
Date: 26 Oct 99 - 02:09 AM

Lookit this cool site that talks about the aurora and shows an image of it from space:

http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast22oct99_2.htm

Ww