Songbooks

This Scottish working song is originally from Poems and Songs Chiefly for the Encouragement of the Working Class by Henry Symes, published in 1849.

This song was once popular in areas of Scotland where the handloom weaving industry was prominent.

This tells of the 'wee cooper' who has married a lady of gentle birth who will not work for him. To make her do so, he puts a sheepskin on her back to beat her into it - rather than mark her skin!

This song celebrates the attempt by Bonnie Prince Charlie to regain the English throne from the Hanoverians in 1745. He landed in the Outer Hebrides and took Carlisle in November; however, in 1746 he...

This song relates to an incident concerning Prince Charlie in the winter of 1745-6, when he escaped from his enemies by putting out to sea in a rising storm with Flora MacDonald and a few other loyal...

This famous song is based on an air played by Malcom Johnson of Barra on a chanter. Barra is a small island in the Outer Hebrides.

Although this is probably of Irish origin, it was popularised in Scotland around 1715 by the famous blind Irish harper, Hempson, then touring there. The familiar 'scotch snap' rhythm dates from the ea...

Although this song is attributed to Lady John Douglas Scott, legend has it that it was composed by one of Prince Charlie's captured followers on the eve of his execution. The 'low road' is the way his...

Burns' poem was based upon a popular story (probably a folk song) and was published in 1794, although the original melody was not the well-known tune we know today. It has since become the traditional...

This river flows in Glen Afton between Afton Reservoir in the south and New Cumnock in the north of the Burns county of Ayr.

North and South Uist are islands in the Outer Hebrides.

The heroine of this song was a real person and the poet was in love with her; but she was to marry another.

The music to this song, written in about 1798, incorporates the traditional fishwives' cry of Edinburgh with the bells of St. Andrew's Church.

This is still often sung at partings of social gatherings in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Fiunary is on the Argyleshire coast.

A West Indian calypso, which originated as a work song of the slaves either on the banana plantations or the loading docks from where the bananas would be shipped abroad.

A Mexican folk tune which has a typical Latin American rhythm.

This well-known American song was written by Daniel Emmett, one of the negro minstrels who were the popular entertainers of the 19th century. When the Civil War broke out in 1861 it was adopted by the...

This song commemorates General Sherman's famous Civil War march of 1864. Henry Clay Work also composed 'My Grandfather's Clock'.

Henry Clay Work (1832-1884) also composed 'Marching through Georgia'.