Ye Jacobites by Name

Ye Jacobites by Name is a traditional Scottish folk song dating back to the Jacobite risings {1688-1746}. The original version attacked the Jacobites from the contemporaneous Whig view point.  However, around 1791 Scottish poet Robert Burns rewrote the lyrics providing a more general, anti-war, anti-Jacobite outlook. Burns version was published in 1793 of James Johnson’s Read More

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond or “The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond” is a well-known traditional Scottish song. The original composer is unknown.  The lyrics we know today are not even the original lyrics.  The original lyrics are said to be “a Jacobite lament written after the Battle of Culloden.” While there are many theories about the meaning Read More

My Wild Irish Rose

My Wild Irish Rose was written by  John Chancellor Olcott Olcott was an American actor, singer and songwriter of Irish descent. Olcott was born on July 21, 1858 in Buffalo, New York.  His mother was a native of County Cork, Ireland. My Wild Irish Rose was written in 1898. My Wild Irish Rose debuted in Read More

Song Story: Scarborough Fair

Scarborough Fair is a traditional English ballad about the Yorkshire town of Scarborough. Scarborough is a small town on the coast of England. The “Scarborough Fair” was a popular gathering in Medieval times, attracting traders and entertainers from all over the country. The fair lasted 45 days and started every August 15th. In the 1600s, Read More

Behind the Song: Highland Cathedral

Often when you hear the bagpipes one of the songs that is popular to be played is Highland Cathedral, although the song does have lyrics.   The song falls right behind Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave, as a request for the bagpipes. In honor of St. Andrews Day later this month, I thought this would Read More

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s take a look at another popular Irish song. “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)” was made popular by Bing Crosby in the 1940s, however it’s origins date back much farther than that. In reality, “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)” is not an Irish song, but an Irish-American song. “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral Read More

Caledonia

Caledonia, the song, is an unofficial anthem for Scotland. Caledonia, the word, is a Latin word for Scotland. The Scottish folk ballad was written by Dougie MacLean in 1977. MacLean was visiting the beach in Brittany, France but feeling homesick for his beloved Scotland.   He said: “I was in my early 20s and had been Read More

The Galway Girl

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day let’s take a look at a popular Irish song. The Galway Girl was written by Steve Earle.  Earle is actually an American, but wrote the song while living in Ireland. The story is semi-autobiographical and tells the story of the singer’s reaction as he meets a  “beautiful black haired Read More

The Blue Bells of Scotland

In honor of Scotland’s St. Andrews Day at the end of the month, I wanted to explore the history of one of Scotland’s popular folk songs. The 19th Century actress, Dorothea Jordan, introduced the song in the early 1800s at the Drury Lane Theatre in Edinburgh.  She claimed to perform the song to an “original Read More

Profile of a Performer: Celtic Thunder

Celtic Thunder is an Irish singing group that is known for their theatrical shows. The show was created and is produced by Sharon Browne, who was a creator and producer for Celtic Woman in 2004. The group made their debut in August 2007 at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland. Phil Coulter, was their musical director, Read More