I discovered Robyn when my wife and I took a trip to Edinburgh this past May, and we stopped by the wonderful CODA on Bank Street (I understand that it's closing). We got her Robert Burns album and was completely blown away. When I got back to the U.S., I ordered her first album as well. She's just extraordinary.
I saw her performing for free on the occation of celebrating Burn's Day in Kelvingrove Museum's noon concerts series. Blown away, exactly. An angelic voice and an angelic face. Free flowing of tears on my side ;-)
This has got to be the best version of this song I have ever heard. Skippinish is a great band and your phrasing is perfect and voice is clear and bright.
Roch the wind in the clear day’s dawin Blaws the cloods heelster-gowdie ow’r the bay, But there’s mair nor a roch wind blawin Through the great glen o’ the warld the day. It’s a thocht that will gar oor rottans - A’ they rogues that gang gallus, fresh and gay - Tak the road, and seek ither loanins For their ill ploys, tae sport and play Nae mair will the bonnie callants Mairch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw, Nor wee weans frae pit-heid and clachan Mourn the ships sailin’ doon the Broomielaw. Broken faimlies in lands we’ve herriet, Will curse Scotland the Brave nae mair, nae mair; Black and white, ane til ither mairriet, Mak the vile barracks o’ their maisters bare. So come all ye at hame wi’ Freedom, Never heed whit the hoodies croak for doom. In your hoose a’ the bairns o’ Adam Can find breid, barley-bree and painted room. When MacLean meets wi’s freens in Springburn A’ the roses and geans will turn tae bloom, And a black boy frae yont Nyanga Dings the fell gallows o’ the burghers doon.
Superb version. Have you considered or already completed a version of ‘Theme for the Early Days of a Better Nation’? Your voice is perfect for it, more suited than perhaps all current versions.
Nice singing! But maybe worth pointing out that Hamish himself changed "black boy" to "black lad" as values change and "boy" became unacceptable because of its links to slavery.
Freedom Come All Ye Original Scots Lyrics by Hamish Henderson, this version by Gordon Hudson Rough's the wind in the clear day's dawning Blows the clouds head-oer-heel across the bay But there's more than a rough wind blowing Through the Great Glen of the world today It's a thought that would make our vermin All those rogues who strut and swagger without care Take the road and seek other lodgings With their vile schemes to sport and play No more will our fine lads be commanded to march to war at a braggarts call Nor wee weans from pitheads and clachans Mourn the ships sailing down the Broomielaw Broken families in lands we've vanquished Will curse "Scotland the Brave", nae mair, nae mair Black and white to one another married Will make the slums of their masters bare So come all ye at home with freedom Never heed those prophets of doom In your house all the bairns of Adam Will find bread, drink and painted rooms When Maclean meets with friends in Springburn All the rose and cherry trees will turn to bloom And the black lad from Nyanga Will break the powers of his masters doon.
