Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)

21 Mar 00 - 07:38 AM (#198555)
Subject: Hills of where?
From: Taniwha

I have some words to a song collected over 15 years ago and I'd like to be able to learn and sing it. Someone might recognise it enough to help.... It begins: 'Oh that I could hear the birds again In the fields of (sounds like) Ardmore/Ardmorn Where the sun lies over (where? sounds like) Skarm-fjord

If I could identify and correct those two place names I have a great song to add to my repertoire, though if anyone can add any further info, such as who wrote it and its title, that would be excellent.

thanks Taniwha

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21 Mar 00 - 07:57 AM (#198559)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: Scabby Douglas

Hills of Ardmorn is right.

It's a song by Roy Williamson who also wrote "Flower of Scotland" - I have the words in a song book at home.

And I can't remember them just now..

I'll have a look around...

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21 Mar 00 - 06:33 PM (#198902)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: Callie

Can't help you with this, but love your name!! Are you a Kiwi? Are you a lake monster?

--Callie (from Australia)

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22 Mar 00 - 05:38 PM (#199373)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: GUEST,Chantywrassler

It's "Scullomvoe" - according to the Corries Songbook...

If that's a misprint it might be Sullomvoe.. But either way.

enjoy singing it

Have Fun

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22 Mar 00 - 08:06 PM (#199501)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan

Sullom Voe seems quite likely - in the Shetlands. Now mainly an oil terminal - but these things happen!

Regards

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23 Mar 00 - 07:57 AM (#199803)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: tar_heel

oh i love those hills of old virginia, from those blue ridge hills i did roam. when i die won't you bury me on the mountain faraway in my blue ridge moutain home!

i know ,wrong song....but beatiful and i love it!!!

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23 Mar 00 - 06:15 PM (#200186)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: GUEST,John in Brisbane

Hi John, do the Corries song books have the music and chords for the songs? Regards, John

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24 Mar 00 - 12:18 PM (#200753)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: John Wood

Hi John in Brisbane.
I've got the nr.2 song book.It's very well laid out,with a simple melody line and chords over.
It's even got small chord diagrams drawn at the top of the page for newbies at guitar playing.
Having said that I've no idea where you could get a copy.
Try the Corries Webb side.The only referrance I can see is to:The Corries(Music)Ltd.

Greetings John.

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24 Mar 00 - 12:22 PM (#200756)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: John Wood

PS.Forgot to mention that there's about 60 songs in this book.
John.

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24 Mar 00 - 02:41 PM (#200814)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: Jim Krause

Chuck, That's probably my most favorite bluegrass song. Reminds me of where I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Odd, ain't it?

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22 Jun 00 - 06:55 PM (#246115)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: GUEST,Gavin Browne

Both Corries songbooks are available from:

www.corries.com

They contain the melody line, guitar chords and lyrics to the songs.

Regards,

Gavin.

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22 Jun 00 - 08:19 PM (#246146)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: kendall

How about, Kentucky, you are the dearest land outside of heaven to me...when I die, I want to rest beneath some peaceful mountain so high...for that is where God will look for me.

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23 Jun 00 - 10:36 AM (#246515)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: SINSULL

Kendall, I love that "I miss the laurel and the red oak trees" "the hounddogs chasin' coons"

Have to look for the lyrics now.

And to add to the stream of consciousness: "I wish I was in the land of cotton..." SS

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24 Jun 00 - 05:05 AM (#246911)
Subject: RE: Hills of where?
From: Fiolar

Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy recorded a song called "The Hills of Isle Ahuit" (pronounced "Ah Ho"). Could that be a different version? Mike

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01 Feb 07 - 12:34 PM (#1954715)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williams
From: GUEST,Rachel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE__xC4AQCk

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01 Feb 07 - 04:35 PM (#1954956)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williamson)
From: bubblyrat

Sullom Voe was a base for special operations against the Nazis in occupied Norway. Teams of special agents & spies etc. were taken to Norway in fishing -boats powered by Bolinder hot-bulb engines, & fitted with twin Lewis -guns hidden inside oil-drums !! There is a very good book about it called "The Shetland Bus ""-----well worth a read.!!

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03 Feb 07 - 06:52 PM (#1956933)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williams
From: Susanne (skw)

Just in case Fiolar is still around, or anybody else is wondering: "The Hills of Isle Ahuit" has nothing to do with Roy Williamson's song, but is "The Hills of Isle Au Haut" by Gordon Bok.

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12 Aug 08 - 04:39 PM (#2411866)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williams
From: GUEST,gogsie

...and I wouldn't think Sullom Voe has anything to do with it as Ardmorn is on Skye and Sullom Voe is not - a few hundred miles apart. The word in the lyrics is "Scullomvoe" but the pronunciation comes out like "Scam-fion".

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13 Aug 08 - 06:34 AM (#2412346)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williamson)
From: Seaking

Janet Russell does a lovely version of this song, sorry don't know which album it's on. I used to accompany Daughter when she sang it and we had the same problem with the name too. Sullom Voe fitted ok and no-one ever queried it.

As an aside I was an engineer on the first ever oil tanker (Donovania)that sailed into Sullom Voe, 30 years ago. Now, where did THAT go !!

Chris

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13 Aug 08 - 08:26 AM (#2412403)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williamson)
From: Sandy Mc Lean

I don't know this song but my guess is that "Scullom(?) voe" would be "Sgorran Mhor" in Gaelic. ( not sure in my spelling is correct)
In any case sgorran mhor means "high peaks" so that fits with the sun being over them. The phonics would be close as well.
       Sgorran =   skoor-an
       Mhor =   Vorr

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14 Aug 08 - 04:46 AM (#2413282)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williams
From: goatfell

this place does not exist, there is no such place anywhere in Scotland called Ardmorn, or Scullom voe, this is a song by Roy Williamson and his idea of Scotland.

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14 Aug 08 - 05:02 AM (#2413293)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williamson)
From: Paul Burke

This place can't be in Scotland then, despite what the owners think.

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14 Aug 08 - 08:57 AM (#2413416)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williamson)
From: Sandy Mc Lean

I listend to Williamson on YouTube singing this song. It does not sound much like the Gaelic "Sgorran Mhor" though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AaizmzAE4E&feature=related

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16 Aug 08 - 04:33 PM (#2415581)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williamson)
From: Megan L

In this version it sounds like Skye oooooo Another version

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26 Aug 08 - 12:20 PM (#2422532)
Subject: RE: Hills of where? (Hills of Ardmorn-Roy Williamson)
From: GUEST,Justin

google "Ardmorn" - There's a B&B there with a website - beautiful picture and the following quote:

"Ardmorn sits on high ground at Roskhill, 3 miles south of historic Dunvegan on the romantic and beautiful Isle of Skye."

I love Janet Russell's version on her excellent album (now available on CD), "Gathering the Fragments" (the rest of that CD is great too).

The lyrics printed above (John Wood) have an important typo. Where John wrote,

"Oh that I could scent the breeze again In the fields newly turned And the gulls circling all around,"

there is a missing line.

After "...fields newly turned," the missing line is, "And the storm clouds high above"

and that's followed by, "And the gulls..."

Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner.

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17 Jan 09 - 03:38 PM (#2541589)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: GUEST

Oh that I could hear the birds again
In the fields of Ardmorn
Where the sun lies over Scullom voe
And the mist silent all around.

Oh that I ccould see the bracken red
In the hills of Ardorn
And the moss-green in between
And the rain falling softly down.

Oh that I could scent the breeze again
In the fields newly turned
And the storm clouds high above
And the gulls circling all around.

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17 Jan 09 - 03:44 PM (#2541594)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: goatfell

this is Roy's vison of Scotland, an immaginery place, like middle earth, the 'Ardmorn' doesn't exist

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17 Jan 09 - 03:52 PM (#2541607)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: Ginger Elderly

If anyone can add anything to this version, I'd be grateful? I think this is how it goes in its entirety!

Cheers, David

Oh that I could hear the birds again
In the fields of Ardmorn
Where the sun lies over Scullom voe
And the mist silent all around.

Oh that I ccould see the bracken red
In the hills of Ardorn
And the moss-green in between
And the rain falling softly down.

Oh that I could scent the breeze again
In the fields newly turned
And the storm clouds high above
And the gulls circling all around.

Oh that I could hear the birds again
In the fields of Ardmorn
Where the sun lies over Scullom voe
And the mist silent all around.

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05 Feb 16 - 09:22 AM (#3770747)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: GUEST

Ardmorn is a farm near Roskhill on the Isle of Skye. And the name of the Cuillins peak referred to is Sgurr a' Fionn Choire, which Williamson abbreviated to Sgurr a' Fionn. It is also known as Bruach na Frithe.

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30 Jun 20 - 04:59 PM (#4062220)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: GUEST

I believe the place names are both constructs and have no reality except in Williamsons imagination representing a fantasy ideal .

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30 Jun 20 - 07:56 PM (#4062243)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: Gallus Moll

Goatfell and/or guest - awa' wi' ye!! This is a SONG not a history or geography lesson- a song of longing, that has spoken to my generation (we grew up with The Corries when they were a Folk Three and Paddy Bell!!) so - leez' alane wi' oor hauntin' memories an' dreams!!
And if you really want facts, why not contact Ronnie Browne, perhaps he can enlighten you? - depending on his memory.....

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01 Jul 20 - 05:43 AM (#4062276)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: Gordon Jackson

I agree wholeheartedly that this is a song, rather than a history or geography lesson. However, for me it’s important to know exactly what the correct lyrics are, should I decide to cover it. Surely that would be the case for anyone? Roy Williamson certainly sang “Scullom”, rather than “Sullom”. He also seemed to sing “vyo” (phonetic spelling) rather than “voe”, so I’m not sure what that’s all about.

Moreover, to muddy the waters further, The Bully Wee Band released the album Silvermines in 1978, which featured The Hills of Ardmorn. Listening to it, and reading the accompanying lyric sheet, they sang “Sculla view”. So where the hell’s Sculla? Might it be a corruption of Scalloway? If so, although in Shetland, I doubt one could see Sullom Voe from there, never mind the Isle of Skye.

I’d just like to know whether to sing “Sullom voe”, “Scullom vyo” or Sculla view”!

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01 Jul 20 - 04:29 PM (#4062332)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hills of Ardmorn (Roy Williamson)
From: Gallus Moll

I have found my two Corries booklets. The earlier The Corries has words only,the later (I presume ) The Corries Song Book has words and tunes.
The Hills of Ardmorn by Roy Williamson is in The Corries.
Verses are:
Oh that I could hear the birds again
In the fields of Ardmorn.,
Where the sun lies o'er Scullumvoe,
And the mist silent all around.

Oh that I could see the bracken red,
In the hills of Ardmorn,
And the moss-green inbetween,
And the rain falling softly down.

Oh that I could scent the breeze again,
In thew fields newly turned,
And the storm clouds high above,
And the gulls circling all around.

I assume my booklets were bought at concerts in the late '60s /early '70s, after The Corries Folk Three and Paddy Bell had broken up? I saw them on a number of occasions, in Edinburgh, Galashiels (I think), Dunoon, possibly Glasgow... wish I had a diary of my life instead of vague memories!
If I can find my book of Roy Williamson's life perhaps there will be a mention there - but in fact - it does not really matter whether these are real places or imagined names! These are the words he wrote - which is an improvement on quite a number of songs I has learned from a single hearing or from a crackly record or cassette. Sometimes you just have to take an educated guess....
(I learned a Gordeanna McCulloch song from a Clutha album, could not make out one phrase - years later when our paths crossed I asked her what the phrase was - and she could not remember!!! So I just had to make my own sense of it. As a traditional song it had probably undergone a number of changes with oral transmission!)
Scullumvoe sounds Orcadian to me? But - who knows, who cares?
I believe Ronnie Browne's son maintains The Corries website, so perhaps he can shed light. However - I have never let an inaudible word or misheard phrase stop me from singing a song - just try to make sense of it meantime, perhaps someday you will meet a person who actually kn ows? - If you do not sing the song it may end up being lost forever, which would be sad.

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