10 Apr 16 - 09:12 PM (#3784686) Subject: Outlander: Mary of souls? From: michaelr Season two of the drama series "Outlander" has begun airing in the US. It's an intriguing mix of Scots history and bodice-ripping, sword-clanging action, gorgeously filmed in the Scottish highlands and now on the Continent. The title song is a re-write of the Skye Boat Song, in which the stanza "Mary of souls, she sailed on a day/Over the sea to Skye" appears. I'm intrigued with the phrase "Mary of souls". Can someone tell me whether that phrase has appeared elsewhere, or what it might mean? |
10 Apr 16 - 09:26 PM (#3784689) Subject: ADD: Sing Me a Song of a Lad That Is Gone From: Joe Offer Here's a YouTube recording of the Outlander theme: Note the lyrics transcription: Sing me a song of a lass that is gone... Say, could that lass be I? Merry of soul, she sailed on a day Over the sea to Skye. Billow and breeze, islands and seas, Mountains of rain and sun... All that was good, all that was fair, All that was me is gone. Sing me a song of a lass that is gone... Say, would that lass be I? Merry of soul, she sailed on a day Over the sea to Skye. The Wikipedia article refers to a Robert Louis Stevenson poem, often sung to the same melody. I found the entire text of the Stevenson poem at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175219 SING ME A SONG OF A LAD THAT IS GONE (Robert Louis Stevenson 1850-1894) Sing me a song of a lad that is gone, Say, could that lad be I? Merry of soul he sailed on a day Over the sea to Skye. Mull was astern, Rum on the port, Eigg on the starboard bow; Glory of youth glowed in his soul; Where is that glory now? Sing me a song of a lad that is gone, Say, could that lad be I? Merry of soul he sailed on a day Over the sea to Skye. Give me again all that was there, Give me the sun that shone! Give me the eyes, give me the soul, Give me the lad that's gone! Sing me a song of a lad that is gone, Say, could that lad be I? Merry of soul he sailed on a day Over the sea to Skye. Billow and breeze, islands and seas, Mountains of rain and sun, All that was good, all that was fair, All that was me is gone. |
10 Apr 16 - 09:52 PM (#3784692) Subject: RE: Outlander: Mary of souls? From: michaelr Joe, you have outdone yourself. Thank you! "Merry of soul" - I wouldn't have thought of that. Much appreciated. Joe, do you watch the show? |
10 Apr 16 - 10:19 PM (#3784698) Subject: RE: Outlander: Mary of souls? From: Joe Offer You betcha, Michael. I have been on two Jim Malcolm tours of Scotland, and have become a lover of all things Scottish. -Joe- |