Designed & produced by Eric Maclewis
© ericdentinger.com
2008-2024

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Lochanside
(Jim Malcolm)

Come the winter, cold and dreary
Brings a hawk doon frae the high scree
Tae the whin where snowy hares hide
A aroond the Lochanside
Come the spring the land lies weary
Till the sun shines oot sae cheery
Brings the bloom, for a o June’s pride
A aroond the Lochanside
If ye’d been ye’d have seen the scatter
A the peezies o’er the machair
When aboon the tawny ool glides
A aroond the Lochanside
And the heron he comes a-creeping
Through the rashes sae green and dreeping
Tae the pool whaur wily troot slide
A aroond the Lochanside
Aye if you ever hae a reason
Tae be here in any season
Come and try the barley bree in
Roond the fire on Lochanside

Summer time and the fish are louping
Dippers in the burnies couping
Swallaes flee frae dawn til e’entide
A aroond the Lochanside
By the autumn the pinks are winging
Blaeberries o’er the moors are hinging
Salmon through the surging spate fight
A aroond the Lochanside

If ye’d been ye’d have seen the scatter
A the peezies o’er the machair
When aboon the tawny ool glides
A aroond the Lochanside
And the heron he comes a-creeping
Through the rashes sae green and dreeping
Tae the pool whaur wily troot slide
A aroond the Lochanside
Aye if you ever hae a reason
Tae be here in any season
Come and try the barley bree in
Roond the fire on Lochanside
Aye if you ever hae a notion
Tae be welcomed wi devotion
Travel home o’er any ocean
Tae be here on Lochanside

Written by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM (*) aka John McLellan, Dunoon (1875-1949) in memory of the battle of Magersfontein (1899), South Africa, between The Boers and the British Army.
Wounded at the ankle, he managed to rally the troops with the sound of his bagpipe.

Lochanside is a melody rather atypical among retreat airs.
It is also directly attached to the battle and describes the army's distress and inability to move.

The name of the song and the lyrics attached have obviously nothing to do with this fight: Lochanside is a charming and bucolic scenery located in Dunoon (Loch Loskin) where McLellan is born, far away from the heat of the battle.

The main lyrics are from Jim Malcolm, Scottish folk singer; Andy Stewart wrote also his By The Lochside.

A tempo of 86 will fit well to the bagpipe tune.

NB: have a look at The Road To The Isles, that is from the same author.


(*) DCM : Distinguished Conduct Medal

Lochanside

PM John McLellan DCM (1875-1949)

* Listen on the album (1st tune) *

- score written by Eric Maclewis with CelticPipes

RETREAT AIR

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