Westering Home

"Westering Home" is a traditional Scottish folk song that was written by

slow march of the Royal Navy

Lyrics

It runs as follows:

Chorus

Westering home, and a song in the air,
Light in the eye and it's goodbye to care.
Laughter o' love, and a welcoming there,
Isle of my heart, my own one.

Verse 1
Tell me o' lands o' the Orient gay,
Speak o' the riches and joys o' Cathay;
Eh, but it's grand to be wakin' ilk day
To find yourself nearer to Islay.

Verse 2
Where are the folk like the folk o' the west?
Canty and couthy and kindly, the best.
There I would hie me and there I would rest
At hame wi' my ain folk in Islay.

Verse 3
Now I'm at home and at home I do lay
Dreaming of riches that come from Cathay
I'll hop a good ship and be on my way
And bring back my fortune to Islay

"Ilk" means each. "Canty" means neat or trim. "Couthy" means homely, simple, unpretentious. "Islay" is pronounced "Isla".

Tune

The tune is a modified version of the traditional "The Muckin o Geordie's Byre", with the time signature changed from 6/8 to 3/4, and the rhythm slightly altered. Roberton appropriated this form of the melody from a Gaelic song with lyrics relating to nostalgia for

First World War, one of several entitled Eilean mo Chrìdh'. Its English title Isle of my Heart features in Roberton’s lyric.^[1]^[2]^[3]

$\language "english" \unfoldRepeats { \relative c'' { \time 6/8 \key d \major \tempo 8 = 160 \partial 8 e8 | a,8. b16 a8 a4 a8 | d4 e8 fs4. | g8. fs16 e8 fs8. e16 d8 | b4 b8 a4. | a8. b16 a8 a4 a8 | d4 e8 fs4. | a8. fs16 d8 fs4 e8 | d4. d8. cs16 b8 | a8. b16 a8 a4 a8 | d4 e8 fs4. | g8. fs16 e8 fs8. e16 d8 | b4 b8 a4. | a8. b16 a8 a4 a8 | d4 e8 fs4. | a8. fs16 d8 fs4 e8 | \partial 8*5 d4. d4 \bar "||" \repeat volta 2 { a'8. fs16 d8 d8. e16 fs8 | e8. d16 e8 a,4. | a8. b16 cs8 d8. e16 fs8 | g8. fs16 g8 e4. | a8. fs16 d8 d8. e16 fs8 | e8. d16 e8 a,4 g'8 | fs8. e16 d8 fs4 e8 | d4. d4. | } \bar "|." } }$

Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can download the audio file.

References

^ "Westering Home, the Islay "National Anthem"". homepages.rootsweb.com.
^ "Arthur Cormack - Eilean mo chrìdh' lyrics + English translation". lyricstranslate.com.
^ "Alan Lomax Archive". Cultural Equity. 2001–2009. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2021.

External links

Entry at the Scottish Poetry Library

This Scotland-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This 1920s song article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Westering Home, the Islay "National Anthem"". homepages.rootsweb.com.

[2] "Arthur Cormack - Eilean mo chrìdh' lyrics + English translation". lyricstranslate.com.

[3] "Alan Lomax Archive". Cultural Equity. 2001–2009. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Islay
Villages	Ardbeg Ardilistry Ardtalla Ballygrant Bowmore Bridgend Bruichladdich Bunnahabhain Easter Ellister Kilchiaran Kilchoman Kilmeny Lagavulin Nerabus Port Askaig Port Charlotte Port Ellen Portnahaven
Geographical features	Ardnave Point Aros Bay Beinn Bheigeir Bowmore Sandstone Group Claggain Bay Colonsay Group Eilean Mhic Coinnich Gruinart Flats Lagavulin Bay Loch an t-Sailein Loch Gruinart Loch Indaal Machir Bay The Oa Rhinns complex Rinns of Islay River Laggan Sound of Islay
History and architecture	Battle of Benbigrie Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart Battle of Epiphany Cenél nÓengusa Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg Clark Cottage Dun Bhruichlinn Dun Guaidhre Dun Nosebridge Dunlossit House Dunyvaig Castle Finlaggan Islay Charter Islay House Islay LIMPET Islay Woollen Mill Kildalton Castle Kilarrow Parish Church RAF Kilchiaran Kildalton Cross Loch Gorm Castle Margadale Mulindry House Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen St John's Church, Port Ellen
Islay whisky	Ardbeg Ardnahoe Bowmore Bruichladdich Bunnahabhain Caol Ila Kilchoman Lagavulin Laphroaig Port Charlotte Port Ellen
Other Islay related articles	Islay Airport Machrie golf course MV Finlaggan Sorex araneus grantii Westering Home Western Isles Open Championship