Lyr Req: 51st Highland Division Farewell To Sicily

Subject: 51st Highland Division's Farewell To Sicily
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 10:56 PM

The 51st Highland Division's Farewell To Sicily. Alasdair Fraser played the melody of this beautiful song on his fiddle last weekend during a local Scottish Fiddlers weekend retreat. A few people tried to remember the words to the song, but all we could remember were fragments. I couldn't find it in the Digitrad. Anyone know where I can find the lyrics? Thanks!

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 11:06 PM

might find it under "Banks of Sicily" i would think

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Sorcha
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 11:18 PM

Banks of Sicily> (the only one) at JC's Tunefinder.....don't even know if this is the right one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 11:23 PM

thats the right tune but he's looking for words...there dont seem to be any there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Melani
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 11:26 PM

Hank Cramer sings it on the Cutter's live album. I'll bring it along for you. It has the advantage that he turns the dialect into semi-English, so it's not too embarrassing for us non-Scots to sing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Melani
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 11:31 PM

Look in the DT under "Banks of Sicily." There's three different versions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 02:02 AM

Thanks. Got it! Yes, I'd like to hear Cramer's version.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Melani
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 01:01 PM

So now I'm confused. I have always known it as having been written by Hamish Henderson, but was the tune written separately from the words, and did he write the whole thing, or just the words?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 01:11 PM

The tune is an old pipe tune, I think called something like Farewell To The Braes, but will try to check.
Dozy and fey,
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 25 Feb 02 - 01:17 PM

Farewell to the Creeks by Pipe Major James Robertson of Banff, apparantly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:24 AM

Words are also on Dick Gaughan's home page along with a
note and a wee essay about it by a mate of Henderson's,
I think. Sorry, too lazy to put a link in but easy enough to find
in a search..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 09:17 AM

One of the most beautiful melodies I know... I'll check the DT and post my version if it isn't in there, I use the Clancy Brothers' one.

Subject: Lyr Add: BANKS OF SICILY
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 09:22 AM

OK, yes mine differs. Here it is:

CHO: Farewell, ye banks of Sicily
Fare ye well, ye valleys and shores
There's no Scot will mourn the loss of ye
All the poor soldiers are weary.

The piper is drowsy, his pipes laid away
He won't be around for his vino today
The sky o'er Messina is heavy and grey
And all the poor soldiers are weary.

CHO

The drummer is dressed up both handsone and tall
His drums and his feed are laid by the wall
He's braced himself up for his foe to endo' [endure]
And all the poor soldiers are weary.

Then tune your pipes, and sound your kettledrums
Gather your kit one side of the wall
Then tune your pipes and sound your kettledrums
All the poor soldiers are weary.

CHO

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 09:23 AM

Handsome, that is. Plus a line break after [endure].

Done. --JoeClone, 2-Mar-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 04:23 PM

Great Scots site Dick Gaughans Home page.
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:50 AM

It is a bit soon to re write HH's song so severely as to change the meaning. The drummie beazed himself up for a foto ie photograph to leave with his dearie. The pipie is fey ie reflective and pensive and possibly possessed of the second sight.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: GUEST,Keith A at work
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:57 AM

Sorry, forgot where I was.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: GUEST,Hector(Selkie)
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 11:24 AM

Tune is pipe melody,Farewell to the Creeks. Words of course, by Hamish. Try also freedom come all Ye.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:31 PM

"he's braced himself up for his photo and 'a" would then be the line in my version?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:10 PM

Closer Mrrzy, but follow it with the original "To leave with his Lola his dearie" but why don't you want to sing the real version? You could just anglicise it a bit for a non jock audience.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: Paddy Plastique
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 04:38 AM

Doesn't need anglicisation atall atall. Hearing Dick Gaughan singing it'd put
shivers down the spine - even if it were in Sicilian :->

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 51st Highlanders Farewell To Sicily
From: GUEST,KeithA at work
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 07:34 AM

OK but the singer should know what he is singing. I have the song in an anthology of modern poetry that helpfully gives the meaning of terms. I will post the meanings when I get home, perhaps in a new thread that could be more easily accessed.
Keith