Caledonia

by Dougie MacLean

I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away
I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I've come from
That's the reason why I seem
So far away today

Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home
But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the fellas and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes, there's no denying
I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying
Somewhere with the wind

Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames have cooled, don't get any higher
They've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When hands have shaken, the kisses float
Then I will disappear

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

Happy Sain't Andrews Day!

John McDermott version lyrics:

Let Italy boast of her gay gilded waters, Her vines and her bowers and her soft sunny skies, Her sons drinking love from the eyes of her daughters, Where freedom expires amid softness and sighs.

Scotland's blue mountains wild where hoary cliffs are piled,Towering in grandeur are dearer tae me,Land of the misty cloud land of the tempest loud,Land of the brave and proud land of the free.

Enthroned on the peak of her own highland mountains,The spirit of Scotia reigns fearless and free,Her green tartan waving o'er blue rock and fountain,And proudly she sings looking over the sea.

Here among my mountains wild I have serenely smiled, When armies and empires against me were hurled, Firm as my native rock I have withstood the shock, Of England, of Denmark, of Rome and the world.

But see how proudly her war steeds are prancing, Deep groves of steel trodden down in their path, The eyes of my sons like their bright swords are glancing, Triumphantly riding through ruin and death.

Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs, Deep-dyed in gore is the green tartan's wave, Shivering are the ranks of steel dire is the horseman's wheel, Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave.

Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs, Deep-dyed in gore is the green tartan's wave, Shivering are the ranks of steel dire is the horseman's wheel, Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave.