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where did the wild geese flee to?

01 Jul 99 - 04:56 PM (#91449)
Subject: where did the wild geese flee to?
From: nonnobis@yahoo.com

On Jean Redpath's tape "A Fine Song for Singing," there is a lovely Scots song called "Wild Geese." One of my favorites, but I can't make out the words. Went to the Jean Redpath website and found that this song is not even listed as existent on this tape. Who wrote it? Is it a Burns or other poem set to music? Does anyone know where I can find the words to it? Is it all in my mind?

01 Jul 99 - 05:01 PM (#91452)
Subject: RE: where did the wild geese flee to?
From: SeanM

There are several 'Wild Goose' songs in the DT (That's the Digital Tradition database)... If you type 'Wild Goose' or 'Wild Geese' in to the box in the upper right corner of the screen, it'll show you all the matches for the songs with that in the lyrics somewhere.

Hope this helps!

M

02 Jul 99 - 12:42 AM (#91583)
Subject: RE: where did the wild geese flee to?
From: Margo

Funny, but I just posted information about this in another thread here. Scroll down to my post. (Sounds like scroll on down to my post, baby!)

Margarita

02 Jul 99 - 08:21 AM (#91651)
Subject: RE: where did the wild geese flee to?
From: Ian McCracken

As another e-mailer said, this refers to Irish and Scottish followers of King James who "flew" across the sea to the continet. there are a number of fictional and factual books about this emigration. Many of those who fled became assimilated into French society, hence the Napoleonic Marshal MacDonald, Irish Brigade in French army, etc.

02 Jul 99 - 08:57 AM (#91659)
Subject: RE: where did the wild geese flee to?
From: Lesley N.

Check out The Wild Geese.

02 Jul 99 - 07:07 PM (#91820)
Subject: Lyr Add: WILD GEESE
From:

WILD GEESE

Oh tell me fit was on yer road, ye roarin' Norlan' wind
As ye cam' blawin' frae the land, that's ne'er frae my mind
My feet they travel England, but I'm deein' for the North
My man, I saw the siller tides run up the Firth o' Forth

Ah, wind I ken them weel eneuch, and fine they fall and rise
And fain I saw the creepin' mist on yonder shore that lies
But tell me as ye passed them by, what saw ye on the way
My man I rocked the rovin' gulls that sail abune the Tay

But saw ye naethin' leein' wind afore ye cam' tae Fife
There's muckle lyin' 'yont the Tay, means mair to me nor life
My man I've swept the Angus braes, ye hae'na trod for years
Oh wind forgi'e a hameless loon that cannae see for tears

And far above the Angus strath I saw the wild geese flee
A lang, lang skein o' beatin' wings, wi' their heads towards the sea
And aye their cryin' voices trailed, ahint them on the air....
Oh wind, hae mercy, haud yer whisht, for I daurna listen mair

Superfluous line breaks removed. --JoeClone, 4-Feb-03.

02 Jul 99 - 10:14 PM (#91859)
Subject: RE: where did the wild geese flee to?
From: DonMeixner

I heard a rumor that one such wild goose, a man named Hennesey, fled to France where, will prospecting, discovered a cure for lost love in a recipe for Cognac.

Fact or fiction? Who knows?

Don