Ancient Lands

The Songs

"Calmain"

is a love song. The song is sung in Scottish Gaelic, with the Isle of Harris dialect. The use of bagpipes adds to the poignancy of the girl as she waits for her love to return.

Is mo ghal 'or agus airgead

I e fhein an t-saoghal dhomh

'S mo ghaol a' ghrian 'san t- seilch

Bheir e dhomh gradh fo nan craobh

Uaireannan , uaireannan

Falbhaidh calmain

Uaireannan , uaireannan

Falbhaidh calmain

Cumaidh mo ghradh gu teann sinn

Gheibh e a 'ghrian a th' annainn

Theid sinn a ' siubhal ri cheile

Comhla ris daonnan

Uaireannan , uaireannan

Falbhaidh calmain

Uaireannan , uaireannan

Falbhaidh calmain

I cannot go, I cannot stay

I will not be taken away

I will stand firm, be strong and true

I will wait forever for you

Itealachaidh mo ghradh fhin

A' tilleadh gu a chlann

Gheibh mo ghradh mi'nam fheitheamnh

Ag analaich deo' 'steach dhomh Doves

English translation

My love is golden and silver

He means the world to me

My love is sunshine and willows

Lovin' me under the trees

Someday someday

Doves fly away

Someday someday

Doves fly away

My love will hold us all tightly

Discover the sunshine within

Hen we'll all go wanderin'

We'll always be with him

Someday someday

Doves fly away

Someday someday

Doves fly away

My loves soars above lightly

Flyin' home to his kin

My love finds me a waitin'

Breathing the sunshine within

Andrew Tootell : Acoustic Guitars Ann Quirk : Lead Vocals

Gavin O'Loghlen : Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Snare Drum, Bagpipes

Music and words written by Andrew Tootell and Ann Quirk

Gaelic translations by Alisdair Taylor

Introduction and instrumental music composed by Gavin O'Loghlen

"Tomorrow and Tomorrow"

was based on a Glaswegan children's rhyme

"Do Ra Me when I was wee I used to peel the tatties

noo I'm big and I can jig and I can kiss the laddies"

But adulthood doesn't necessarily bring with it happiness - the men are called to war, the women are left to fend for themselves - and long for the happiness of childhood.

Do-ra-me when I was wee I used to peel the tatties

Noo I'm big, and I can jig and I can kiss the laddies

Darkening skies, and silvery moon and lovers in the glenside

You're far away o'er oceans deep I wish you were by my side

Tomorrow and Tomorrow all rolls into one

The clouds are hoverin' in the sky

And darkenin' the sun

My baba is a cryin' hard she doesnna' know her Da'

He's far away, a fightin' man I'm lonely, and its hard

The drums are beatin' far away I hear them in my mind's eye

The pipes are soundin' shrill my dear I wish you were by my side

Tomorrow and Tomorrow all rolls into one

The clouds are hoverin' in the sky

And darkenin' the sun

Andrew Tootell : Acoustic Guitars Ann Quirk : Lead Vocals

Backing Vocals : Anne Dormer, Andrew Tootell, Gavin O'Loghlen

Gavin O'Loghlen : Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Bagpipes

Violin : Stephanie Graeber

Music and words written by Andrew Tootell and Ann Quirk

Introduction and instrumental music composed by Gavin O'Loghlen

"Mortal Soldier"

is a song about leaving the place of one's birth. Although the central character in the song is a soldier wondering if he will die and be buried in a strange land, the same feeling is true for every immigrant in a new land. It evokes in us a "cianalas" which translated into English means a kind of "longing". The introduction and third verse are sung in Scottish Gaelic, the language of Ann's birthplace.

Cha dhilinn am faic mi tir A land I'll never see again

Mar a bha e uair As it was before

'miannaich air beanntan ceo'thar I long for misty mountains

S cladaichean fad air falbh And those far off shores

I am a mortal soldier

My heart is full of courage

Weary of battle

I long now for home

No longer hear the drum beat

Or camaraderie laughter

See pale faces

And death facin' me

CHORUS

I am a mortal soldier

From green rolling islands

Steep lochs, and dear folk

And a cold winter breeze

See it in my dreams

Barren lofty beauty

Sail silver waters

'fore death comes to me

CHORUS

Cha dhilinn am faic mi tir A land I'll never see again

Mar a bha e uair As it was before

'Miannaich air beanntan ce'othar I long for misty mountains

S cladaichean fad air falbh And those far off shores

Rest me in green field

I played as a wee lad

Scatter all my ashes

In lavender blue

Andrew Tootell : 6 and 12 String Acoustic Guitars Ann Quirk : Lead Vocals

Stephanie Graeber : Violin

Gavin O'Loghlen : Drums, Bass, Keyboards

Music and words written by Andrew Tootell and Ann Quirk

Intro and ending music composed by Gavin O'Loghlen

"Mary McClary"

is a fun song, written to cheer up Ann's sister who was feeling a little downhearted. The little bagpipe jig pops in to put a smile on your face.

Oh Mary Mc Clary, eyes like the sea

Face like the sun, loves being free

Oh ye dance in the spring

All through the day

Ma darlin' wee girl, don't go away

With a diddle aye do dum

And a diddle aye do day

With a diddle aye do dum

And a diddle aye do day

Buy a wee hoose, a wee but and ben

All cosy and warm, down in the glen

Oh ye dance in the morn, sing now to me

Be happy forever, forever free

With a diddle aye do dum

And a diddle aye do day

With a diddle aye do dum

And a diddle aye do day

Oh Mary Mc Clary, eyes like the sea

Face like the sun, loves being free

Oh ye dance in the morn, sing now to me

Be happy forever, forever free

With a diddle aye do dum

And a diddle aye do day

With a diddle aye do dum

And a diddle aye do day

Andrew Tootell : Acoustic Guitars

Ann Quirk : Lead Vocals Stephanie Graeber : Violin

Backing Vocals : Andrew Tootell, Gavin O'Loghlen

Gavin O'Loghlen : Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Bagpipes

Music / words written by Andrew Tootell and Ann Quirk

Instrumental music composed by Gavin O'Loghlen

"Ancient Lands"

is gentle medieval piece for woodwind and guitar. It attempts to capture musically the feel of forests and an age of tranquility.

There is a darker side to many of the songs. The plagues that devastated Medieval Europe, with their tales of selfishness and isolation are the subjects of

"Images of Fear" and "The Hour Glass" .

The things we do not understand hold for us the greatest fear, and eventually through ignorance and superstition, the fear itself becomes our greatest enemy.

"Uaireannan"

closes the album. Like bookends, the song is sung in Scottish Gaelic and revisits the theme of "someday, someday" we will all do the things we dream about. Its lush vocals and anthem type quality, give way to a plaintive farewell of bagpipes.

The Art work

The art work and design of the album booklet of Ancient Lands, was the work of artist Anne Dormer, who just happens to be Loch'rien's bass guitarist. Anne has been a successful artist and teacher for over twenty years and has illustrated many CD covers.

Buy the CD

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