Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)

Subject: The reivers gally
From:
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 02:38 AM

This gorgeous song appears on one of The Corries Live from Scotland albums. My copy is on tape and is so old and muffled I cannot make out all of the lyrics.

Thankyou R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The reivers gally
From: Rob the Ranter
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 03:28 AM

The Rievers Galley

I thought it might help to have some of the lyrics (dis- jointed though they may be) to jog some memories

Sail She swiftly from the harbour Fa la le ho fa la la lee through the storm winds she lays her coursing Fa la le ho fa la la lee

Scars of battle are on her timbers grain and cattle for hungry hoards

no dreams of war now those days are over Fa la le ho fa la la lee

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The reivers gally
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 01:22 PM

Can't help directly, but I can tell you that it's in The Corries Songbook Volume 1, which you can find out more about at Gavin Browne's Corries site: http://www.corries.com/home1.htm

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The reivers gally
From:
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 09:35 PM

Re: Reivers Galley;

I also have a old recording of this song but I am pretty sure of about 90% of the words. I filled in some that made sense.

Sails she swiftly from the harbour

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The reivers gally
From:
Date: 25 Apr 00 - 09:44 PM

Re: Reivers Galley;

I also have a old recording of this song but I am pretty sure of about 90% of the words. I filled in some that made sense.

Sails she swiftly from the harbour
Fal de re ho etc
Like a lone gull before the storm winds
Fal de re ho etc.
Kismaels' galley goes a reiving
Sails she swiftly to Isla's shore
To isles of daring and deeds and laughter
Fal de re ho - Fal de re

Through the moonlight she lays her coursing
Fale de re etc
Far beneath her the grey blue limplets
Fal de re etc
Spoils of glory is her venture
Deeds of glory in brightest dawn
On through Moorla to fair green Isla
Fal de re ho etc

Turns she homeward through dancing sunlight
Fal de re etc
From soft green southland to northern darnight
Fal de re ho etc
Scars of battle are on her timbers
Grain and cattle for hungry homes
Hardy winter stole her boyhood
Fal de re ho etc

Now the harpist weaves his story
Fal de re ho etc
To mention heroes of former glory
Fal de re ho etc
Kismael's galley is safely home now
Sleeps she gently like a swan
No dreams of war now her wings are folded
Fal de re ho fal de re.

As i said some of these words may not be correct, hope someone will supply the proper text.

Good luck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The reivers gally
From: wildlone
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 01:38 PM

In an aside to this thread I read that the Laird of Kishmuls castle has leased it to the Scottish heritage for I pound and a bottle of whiskey per year for 999 years.
The castle is on Bara, home of the Mc Neils.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The reivers gally
From: GUEST,drunkthistle
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 04:16 PM

some corrections to stanza 2 above: line 2 should read 'limpets', line 4 'deeds of valour', and line 5 'Muladh', which is the Gaelic name of the Hebridean island of Mull, the other island referred to is 'Islay'-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The reivers gally
From: Charmion
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 05:02 PM

The song you're discussing here appears as "Kishmul's Galley" in the first volume of "Songs of the Hebrides" by Marjorie Kennedy-Fraser (published circa 1905). Kenneth MacKellar recorded it about 1960 for "Songs of the Hebrides", an album of Kennedy-Fraser songs with commentary delivered over a background of surf-and-gulls noises.

The Kennedy-Fraser arrangement thunders like Wagner, but it's a thrilling ride when both vocalist and accompanist are equal to the considerable demands of this noble song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Riever's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 11:52 PM

See the thread Help: Who was Kishmul? Also, you can follow links from there to other related threads.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Lighter
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 09:49 AM

Charmion, are you certain that this song is the one Kennedy-Fraser calls "Kishmul's Galley"? I don't have access to Songs of the Hebrides, but my imperfect recollection is that "K.G." was a different song.

At any rate, Flora MacNeill sang a perfectly lovely Gaelic version of "K.G." on the old Caedmon recording, "Sailors and Serving Maids."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST,Jim I
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 03:17 PM

I agree Lighter.

The song I remember as Kishmuil's Galley, also from the singing of the Corries, is as follows

Kishmuils Galley
High upon the Ben Achie
On this day of days
Seaward I gaze
Watching Kishmuil's galley sailing

Chorus:   
Ahee, ahuo, Valee ahuo

Homeward she bravely battles
'Gainst the hurtling waves
Nor hoop nor yards,
Anchor, cable, nor tackle has she.

Bravely, 'gainst wind and tide
They bring her to
'Neath Kishmuils walls
Kishmuil's castle of ancient glory

Here's red wine and feast for heroes
And harping too.
Hyree, Hyroo
Sweet harping for our gallant Kishmuil

Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 04:08 PM

This song was sung widely and frequently in the early 1960s by Archie and Ray Fisher - I'm fairly sure that's where the Corries got both their words and arrangement.

Jack Beck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Lighter
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 05:59 PM

That's it. Flora MacNeill's song is pretty much the same idea, but her melody differs from that in Songs of the Hebrides.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE REIVER'S GALLEY (from The Corries)
From: GUEST,Curuedhel
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 07:44 AM

Just in case anyone is still looking for this, here's the proper lyrics (as per the Live from Scotland album)

Sails she swiftly from the harbour
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
Like a lone gull before the storm winds
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
Kismuils' galley goes a-reiving
Sails she swiftly to Isla's shore
To isles of daring o' deeds and laughter
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee

Through the moonlight she lays her coursing
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
Far beneath her the grey-blue limpets
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
Spoils of glory is her venture
Deeds of valour in brightest dawn
On through Mulla to fair green Isla
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee

Turns she homeward through dancing sunlight
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
From soft green southland to northern dark night
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
Scars of battle are on her timbers
Grain and cattle for hungry homes
Hardy winter's toll avoided
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee

Now the harpist weaves his story
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
Laments the heroes of former glory
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
Kismuil's galley safely home now
Sleeps she softly like a swan
No dreams of war now her wings are folded
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 09:36 PM

Jut to mention that the words of the penultimate verse are " Hardy winters tole avoided "

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 10:49 PM

Does anyone know the guitar chords for The Corries' version?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jun 12 - 06:41 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: it'smagic
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 07:46 PM

The song in question is The Reivers Galley. Kismul's Gallety is another song, even if they both have Kismul in them and both were sung by the Corries. Reivers Galley was written by Roy Williamson of the Corries, so it's not traditional. It may be one day, though, as a lot of Scottish artists now sing it. Thanks for the complete lyrics, GUEST from 2007. I had just about memorized them but never gotten around to writing them down. I like this song quite a lot. Roy played it on his combolin and he matched the timing of his voice, the instrument and the ship's sailing movement so well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:02 AM

"Does anyone know the guitar chords for The Corries' version?"

G
Sails she swiftly from the harbour
         D       G
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee

Like a lone gull before the storm winds
         D       G
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee
         Em            G
Kismuils' galley goes a-reiving
         Em         G      D   
Sails she swiftly to Isla's shore
            G
To isles of daring o' deeds and laughter
         D       G
Fa-la-lee-ho fa-la-lee

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:07 AM

Sorry when posted the chords moved to the left slightly ;-)

D is played on the ho
G is played on the lee
Em on ne the galley and swiftly
G on the reiving and Isla's and daring
And obviously D on the shore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST,Chip
Date: 02 Feb 21 - 11:31 AM

Cheers

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Lighter
Date: 02 Feb 21 - 07:25 PM

It may go without saying, but Williamson's song, words and music, is strongly influenced by several "galley" songs in the three volumes of Marjorie Kennedy-Fraser's "Songs of the Hebrides" (1908-1921).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: leeneia
Date: 03 Feb 21 - 11:49 AM

What's a reiver? Acc. to Wikipedia, it was a raider who victimized both Scottish and English people in the Borders from the 13th century through the 17th.   

You can hear the song on Youtube. Nice tune. It's in F.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxtU3XlVSUU

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 03 Feb 21 - 02:39 PM

reivers /rievers were members of Borders clans bands who raided cattle and other livestock - Scottish version of rustlers?
I think the boundaries were quite flexible back in the day - were they called 'the debatable lands'? The Scottish border changed over the years, at one point it included land as far South as Newcastle is now? (I am sure I will be corrected by someone who knows better!)
My mother's clan was Eliot/Elliot/Eliott, well known as Borders rievers!

Wildlone - belatedly! - I would expect it was a bottle of whisky (not whiskey!)that was part of the arrangement!
(Whisky is Scottish, Whiskey is Irish or American)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Allan Conn
Date: 03 Feb 21 - 03:17 PM

People often get a bit mixed up over the Debateable Land. It wasn't what the Border Marches were called. The border was well defined enough apart from a small strip of land in the west around Canonbie. There was a quite small piece of territory only about 8 miles or so in length where the border was disputed and belonged officially to neither kingdom until it was settled in the mid 16thC. That was the Debateable Land. Just a tiny fraction of the West Marches both Scottish and English. The demarcation in the mid 16thC was created by the Scotch Dyke. Just a tiny fraction of the length of the border. Yes the riding names and broken men alike in the Borders were called Border Reivers but this song is about reiving in the Western Isles. Nothing to do with Border Reivers. Isn't it about McNeil of Barra?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Allan Conn
Date: 03 Feb 21 - 03:39 PM

Please see below for the area called The Debateable Land. hey were the small orange coloured section at the extreme west of the border. The white line is the Scotch Dyke separating that part of the Debateable Land which ended up Scottish from that which ended English in 1552. Apart from that the border was pretty much as it is since the 11thC. In my side of the country the Tweed/Cheviot line became the border in about 1018 after the Battle of Carham. The only change is really the extreme east where the former Scottish town of Berwick finally became accepted as English in 1482. Apart from that the border never really changed since the 11thC. Scottish kings held land in Cumbria and Northumberland (and even further south) but they held these lands with the English monarch as feudal superior for the English lands. Scotland often tried to annex the northern English counties and push the border south but they finally agreed on the current border, virtually as it is apart from the shaded areas, in treaty in 1237. After that bits of territory at times were occupied by one or the other but it was always regarded as occupied territory not as belonging to the other country.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Anglo-Scottish.border.history.jpg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Allan Conn
Date: 03 Feb 21 - 03:49 PM

And this is Kisimul Castle on the Isle of Barra. Seat of McNeil of Barra. The McNeils were a smallish but feared and lawless clan so in the song they would take their galleys and raid (ie reive) other clans on the Hebrides or western seaboard. They pitted themselves against the Scottish Crown itself and the crown's favoured Clan Campbell when that clan was gaining prominence.

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/kisimul-castle/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 03 Feb 21 - 04:11 PM

https://youtu.be/ifJh0U3vgzU      The Corries singing the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 04 Feb 21 - 05:27 AM

Thanks to Allan Conn for the information anout the Borders.... I was responding to an earlier post asking what a reiver/riever was. - I have only heard the word used in relation to the Borders and cattle stealing, tho I know similar escapades went on in the Highlands too (eg at Balindore by Taynuilt, where an ancestor of Robert Burns had to defend the property against some raiders).
I hadn't heard it used in relation to the Western Islands - but I am not a student of history!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Reiver's Galley (from The Corries)
From: Lighter
Date: 04 Feb 21 - 06:48 AM

William Faulkner's final, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was titled "The Reivers" (1962). It took place in Mississippi.

The word was use figuratively.