Hauntingly Beautiful
Most beautiful rendition I've heard so far
Very lovely video fitting the song
The Skye Boat Song
performed by
Ella Roberts
The History Behind "The Skye Boat Song"
"The Skye Boat Song" is a late 19th century Scottish lullaby recalling the voyage of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) to the isle of Skye as he evaded capture by Government troops after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The song was written over a century later.
Backstory:
"Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) was the grandson of King James II (House of Stuart.) James II was the last Roman Catholic monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland. James II reigned for three years before being deposed and sent into exile in 1688. In the mid-1700's, Bonnie Prince Charlie led the efforts to restore the House of Stuart to the thrones. This movement was called the Jacobite Revolt. It was named after Jacobus, the Latin form of James.
In 1745, Charles led the Jacobite Rebellion to regain the throne for his father James (would be James III). Though he and the Jacobites had early successes, their rebellion ended with their defeat at The Battle of Culloden in 1746. The battle was a crushing and deadly defeat for the Jacobites and Highlander culture. It brought an end of the Jacobite Movement and a permanent exile for Prince Charlie.
Charles's daring escape after the final Battle of Culloden has become the stuff of legend and is commemorated in the popular folk song "The Skye Boat Song". Hiding in the moors of Scotland, he was always barely ahead of the government forces. Though many Highlanders saw Charles, and indeed aided him, none of them betrayed him for the £30,000 reward offered. Charles was assisted by many supporters including Flora MacDonald, who helped him escape to the Isle of Skye by taking him, disguised as her Irish maid, "Betty Burke", in a small boat. In this way he evaded capture and left the country aboard the French frigate L'Heureux, arriving back in France. With the Jacobite cause lost, Charles spent the remainder of his life—except for one brief, secret visit to London—on the continent." (Wikipedia)
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Vocab:
Bonnie Prince Charlie = the lad that's born to be king
Flora = Flora Macdonald who helped Charles escape
bonnie = good
claymore = "Great Sword"
Lyrics
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Loud the wind howls
Loud the waves roar
Thunderclaps rend the air
Baffled our foes
Stand by the shore
Follow they will not dare
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore did wield
When the night came
Silently lain
Dead on Culloden field
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
Though the waves heave
Soft will ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep
Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye
The tune of this song in used in the TV series, Outlander, using different lyrics. Outlander is set in the historical period of the Jacobite Revolt in the Highlands of Scotland.
The first two seasons of Outlander are currently playing on Netflix.
"The Skye Boat Song"
performed by
Ella Roberts
YouTube Direct Link: https://youtu.be/XBSqQPP4aVM
