1. |
Pennies Frae Heaven
02:02
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PENNIES FRAE HEAVEN
Intro: Pennies frae heaven, Pennies frae heaven.
V1. And fifteen hundred men in camps along the way,
Near and far they came frae, left there homes and families,
Work was harsh, was brutal, breaking earth and rocks
Eight dams and a barrage, the likes had never been seen in this place before.
Ch. Miles from Doon and miles to go
Water o Doon and Water o Ken.
Lochwhinnie Carsfad and Earlston,
Making a run for Clatterinshaws.
Glenlee to Glenlochar, the Barrage , to Tongland to sea.
V2. But private legislation it did not please all folk.
“Raiders come today who kill the glories of our hills”
How could they be sure that dams would never break.
Homes and farms were emptied, the likes had never been seen in this place before.
Ch. Miles from Doon and miles to go
Water o Doon and Water o Ken.
Lochwhinnie Carsfad and Earlston,
Making a run for Clatterinshaws.
Glenlee to Glenlochar, the Barrage, to Tongland to sea.
Written by Nicola Black for the Catstrand Singers.
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2. |
Moorbrock Memories
03:30
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V1.
I'll never forget the fine lilt of the chanter,
when peat fire flames lit the last of the day.
All the hens climb'd tae roosts in the loft bune the byre,
and a' on the fire laid their workload away.
Ch
As a bairn they say I was piped tae sleep,
A wee but different to counting sheep.
I heard the pipe tunes a' the time,
did it set me deedlin' in my mind
V2.
Twas a great time of peace for the good shepherd’s family,
An hour of contentment all round the farm
When the workaday ended and pipe tunes transcended
Vibrating their way in the eventide calm
Ch
V3.
Oh the skirl o’ the pipes on a summer nicht
As we hunkered alang Moorbrock’s auld wa’s
And hens and jooks in their cozy nooks
Were like us, well attuned tae theblaws.
Ch
V4.
An see hill kye on a simmer day
They’ll a gaither tae listen
Glowering ower a fence or dyke
As if music’s a fine lyke thing.
Ch
Words by Bunty Scott from her poems Moorbrock Memories and Piping. Put to music and arranged for the Catstrand Singers by Nicola Black.
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3. |
Adder Stane
01:11
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ADDER STANE
Round
Hag stane, clachan nathaireach,
Charm beads witches stanes
Chicken God, Hühnegotter
Oh! A muckle o
Magic in the adder stane.
Written by Nicola Black for the Catstrand Singers
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4. |
Rhona
02:06
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RHONA
Oh starlings on the wire against,
A pink sky like abacus beads.
Dee Waters quiver, feathered fingers of yellow in a twilight walz.
A child reaches for tall grass.
Upside down kiss of a dog rose.
Gathers this peace. Gathers peace, peace all for herself.
Whist! The river would speak with our silence.
Whist! The river would peak with our silence.
A ha, a ha, to the end.
Written for the Catstrand Singers by Nicola Black in memory of Rhona Houff, a beloved member of the choir.
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5. |
Kenmure's on and Awa
02:48
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Kenmure’s on and a, Kenmure’s on and a, Kenmure’s on and awa.
(also between each verse and at the end)
O Kenmure's on and awa, Willie O Kenmure's on and awa:
An' Kenmure's lord's the bravest lord
That ever Galloway saw.
Success to Kenmure's band, Willie! Success to Kenmure's band!
There's no a heart that fears a Whig,
That rides by kenmure's hand.
Here's Kenmure's health in wine, Willie! Here's Kenmure's health in wine!
There's ne'er a coward o' Kenmure's blude,
Nor yet o' Gordon's line.
O Kenmure's lads are men, Willie, O Kenmure's lads are men;
Their hearts and swords are metal true,
And that their foes shall ken.
They'll live or die wi' fame, Willie; They'll live or die wi' fame;
But sune, wi' sounding victorie,
May Kenmure's lord come hame!
Here's him that's far awa, Willie! Here's him that's far awa!
And here's the flower that I loe best,
The rose that's like the snaw.
Words and tune by Robert Burns based on an older version, arranged for the Catstrand Singers by Nicola Black.
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6. |
Deva
02:12
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DEVA
Deva Deva Water.
Deva Deva Water.
Deva Deva Deva Water
Deva Deva deva Water
Hey Deva, Hey Deva, Hey Deva, Hey Deva, Deva!
Hey Deva, Hey Deva, Hey Deva, Hey Deva
(the song then returns to line 3 before finishing after line 4.)
By Nicola Black for the Catstrand Singers.
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7. |
Galloway Lullaby
03:17
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GALLOWAY LULLABY
V1.
Mist has quaitened doon the glen,
Bringing peace tae everything.
My bairn's the finest in the land,
O Galloway the nicht.
Ch.
Clouds are girdled roon the moon,
Sit on Mill Yea like a croon.
My wee bairnies coorie doon,
In Galloway the nicht.
V2.
Though your daddy isnae here,
He still loves you, hae nae fear.
Close your eyes and dream him back,
Tae your wee bed the nicht.
V3.
Cuddle close now, hae nae fear,
Your mammy loves her wee dear.
You'll nae come tae ony herm,
In Galloway the nicht.
V4.
My childhood days, they are long past,
Joy for yours will surely last.
Sunshine, burns, braes and trees,
In Galloway for you.
By Logan Paterson, transcribed by Jo Miller, arranged for the Catstrand Singers by Nicola Black.
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8. |
Earth's Blessing
01:57
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EARTH’S BLESSING SONG
May this moment reach in and find you.
May fear and pain never bind you.
May kindness touch you and guide you,
May your friends love you and mind you.
May the earth nourish, uphold you,
May fire heat and ignite you.
May the air breathe and expand you,
May water cleanse you and flow you.
May spring quicken inspire you,
May summer blossom and feast you.
May autumn ripen and harvest you,
May winter deepen and rest you.
May the moon soothe you illume you,
May silence still and refine you.
May your heart cherish, open you,
May your soul sing you and dance you.
And may death always remind you,
To live the vastness inside you.
By Debra Hall. Arranged by Debra hall and Nicola Black for the Catstrand Singers.
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9. |
A Conversation of Geese
01:40
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A CONVERSATION OF GEESE
ROUND WITH DESCANT
There’s a conversation of geese,
In the loch, the fields, the sky.
There’s a plan they make,
When the spring comes round
To fly off to colder climes,
For Summer time.
Written by Nicola Black for the Catstrand Singers.
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10. |
Bonnie Gallowa
02:40
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V1. Wha but lo'es the bonnie hills,
Wha but lo'es the shinin' rills;
Aye for thee my bosom fills; Bonnie Gallowa.
Land o' darkly rollin' Dee,
Land o' silvery windin' Cree,
Kiss'd by Solway's foamy sea; Bonnie Gallowa.
V2. Wreaths o' glory roun' thee weave,
Gory land o' fearless Threave,
Heroes' deeds your sons achieve; Bonnie Gallowa.
Ance ye had a king your ain,
Wha your laurels ne'er wad stain,
Focht your foes wi' micht an' main; Bonnie Gallowa.
V3. Wha 'mang Scotia's chiefs can shine?
Heroes o' the Douglas line,
Maxwells, Gordons, a' are thine; Bonnie Gallowa.
Land o' birk and rowan tree,
Land o' fell and forest free,
Land that's aye sae dear to me; Bonnie Gallowa.
Words by George G. B. Sproat.
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11. |
Perestroika
03:01
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Intro and chorus;
Da da da da …. (sung between each verse)
V1. Back in nineteen eighty six,
The world heard news that rocked it’s soul.
The name Chernobyl tripped off every tongue,
Loss of lives and homes and loves
Losses so hard to bear.
Ch.
V2. Perestroika Glasnost, openness,
New dawn, new days East and West.
Kids from Belarus, came to Galloway,
Far from home and family,
Far from Chernobyl.
Ch.
V3. Amber from the Baltic States,
Gifts from Babooshka’s treasures.
‘Stop there machina!’ ‘Try a little now’,
Friendships made for ever,
Friendships made for life.
Ch.
V4. There’s no easy end to all of this,
Radiation lasts for so long.
Pains of poverty, don’t just fade away,
The lifeline carries on today;
The lifeline carries on.
Ch.
Note: The children who came at first were not used to traffic, or different foods. The host families were taught short phrases and Stop Machina was used a lot, as well as one encouraging the children to try new foods.
Written by Nicola Black for the CatStrand Singers.
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12. |
Heavenly Trine
01:09
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Out for an early walk with Jack,
The moon - crater pocked,
Still high in the early morning sky.
The sun a ball of fire rising behind me,
And I - alone,
Watching from planet Earth
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13. |
Four Men
02:32
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V1. Four men when summer nichts are lang,
Take walks where linties sing their sang,
And talk aboot the days lang syne
, And other things that thae can mind.
They watch the crops baith great an' sma’,
And if the plooin’s straight or no,
Or if that auld coo’s still as lame,
Would she no be better in a hame?
V2.By jings, that corn it’s lookin’ weel,
But should ye be cuttin’ that barley field?
A sometimes think ye canny wun,
Yer bait before you’ve even begun.
They’ll stop outside my garden gate,
no up yet? Kinna late!
But glad tae see they're up - yer seeds!
(When I ken masel’ it’s maistly weeds!!)
V3. That’s fancy lettuce ye hae grew
, Ne’er seen it afore, is it new?,
What’s they plants ower next the pail?
Aye, ye canna beat a bit o’ kale.
Yon wee flower what kind is that?
Oh it’s just a nettle lyin’ flat,
The roses thae look very guid,
Except for thae twae that are deid.
V4. But folks, A’m really kiddin’ on,
I’ll be sorry when thae days are gone,
'Cause the younger yins micht never look,
When thae gaun doon the bank tae dook.
Whether harvest’s late or sune,
Or whether the garden’s ever done,
So thanks freens for yer wee bit crack,
Lang may ye hae yer summer walk.
Written by Tommy Edgar and put to music and arranged for the Catstrand Singers by Nicola Black.
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14. |
Moon on Silver Flowe
01:38
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MOON ON SILVER FLOWE
V1. Late in the night, I hear her voice.
Call me, call me.
Above the trees, over the ridge,
Call me, call me.
Ch.I can not, and I cannot ignore.
Her shining face.
V2.Dipping behind the awful hand,
Benbrack, Black Craig.
Peeping above Corserine,
Millfire moonlit.
V3.A pool of light, brings out the tale,
Carlin’s Cairn.
The Silver Flowe glisters below
Craiglee, Merrick.
By Nicola Black for the Catstrand singers.
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15. |
The Gallowa Hills
02:00
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V1.For I'll tak' my plaidie, contentit tae be,
A wee bit kiltit abuin my knee,
An' I'll gie my pipes anither blaw
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa.
Chorus
Oh the Gallowa' Hills are covered wi' broom,
Wi' heather bells an' bonny doon;
Wi' heather bells an' rivers a',
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa.
V2.For say bonnie lassie, it's will ye come wi' me
Tae share your lot in a strange country,
For tae share your lot when doon fa's a',
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa.
V3.For I'l sell my rock, I'll sell my reel,
I'll sell my Grannie's spinnin' wheel,
I will sell them a' when doon fa's a',
An' I'll gang oot o'er the hills tae Gallowa.
By Jeannie Robertson, arranged by Nicola Black for the Catstrand Singers.
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catstrandsingers Castle Douglas, UK
Back in 2008, a small group of folk started meeting each week. The idea was to provide a space for anyone who wanted to sing
- regardless of age, ability, or experience.
That group has become a choir of over twenty, who meet and sing songs. The mission remains the same, to enable anyone from any background to experience the joy of singing with others, increasing confidence and wellbeing.
... more
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