The songs and their stories…

The song “I Will Fly Like An Eagle” is my metaphorical swan song, a musical representation of my final goodbye. A simple message to my family and friends: hold onto the happy memories, and let love, not sadness, be your guide. The warmth of family and the genuine bonds of hundreds of friends have made my life a wonderful journey, full of joy and support.

“Will You Be My Friend?” highlights the plight of homeless children globally, revealing their deepest desire isn’t just for sustenance but for the connection and acceptance found in friendship and family. Their longing transcends material needs.

“Slaves song,” recounts the journey of an African boy and his family, stolen from their home, the sounds of their village replaced by the harsh cries of the slave ships, their bright African clothes replaced by rough slave garments. In the end, he escapes and somehow returns to Africa; the familiar sounds and smells of his village wash over him as he’s welcomed home.

This song’s success, both as a solo project and with Celtic Horizon Band, has been overwhelming; the response from fans has been incredibly moving.

My favorite song, “I’m a Man of the River,” paints a vivid picture of a retired fisherman’s longing for the sea, following his life from youthful sea voyages at twelve to his present wistful contemplation—a song that evokes the feel of sea spray and the creak of aged wood.

“Scottish Americans” champions the rights of those with Scottish ancestry, wherever in the world they may reside, to proudly embrace their heritage and view Scotland as their ancestral homeland. 

Sunset and Sunrise. If you’re feeling sad, stressed, or down, the message in “Sunset and Sunrise” is simple: step outside, breathe in the fresh air, and let the stunning spectacle of a sunset or sunrise—the rich colors, the calming sounds of nature—wash away your troubles. There are moments when we all need that. I love this song.

This is the first six songs on the album. The remaining six are on the right here. I hope you are enjoying so far.

The songs track 7 to 12 stories

The Boys from Bonnie Scotland is a celebration and thank you to all the audiences and friends over the years and those to come for simply being part of an amazing journey. It is a party song to sing, dance and clap along.

Wont you say Hello tells the story of a man who at the end of work each day has a coffee in his favourite cafe by the window. Every evening among all those walking past one woman takes his eye until he is desperate to meet her. Eventually he does what most of us don't do and he waks out to invite her in for coffee. She says yes and they lived happily ever after. In the Youtube video my partner Lisbeth plays the woman and I the longing admirer.

A girl in the audience. The singer saw a girl in the audience, someone who’d been at many shows before, and her shy smile hinted at a deeper affection. The song details his internal conflict; captivated by her, yet terrified of the commitment love demands, clinging to his independent lifestyle.

I am easy. Among my favorite songs is “I Am Easy,” a tune that speaks to the peace found after grief, the lyrics painting a picture of fond remembrance. Hence “I am easy.”

Heavin’ Haul Away is a poignant reminder of the dangerous lives of fishermen, their struggles ensuring our plates are full. The sounds of the ocean and the creak of the boats are almost audible in the lyrics. The song depicts fishermen waving goodbye to their loved ones, the salty air heavy with unspoken emotion as they embark on another night’s voyage into the dark sea. A few days later, they are caught in a terrifying storm; mountainous waves crash over the deck, the wind howls a mournful dirge, and they know then that they aren’t going home.

Oollee allee ay. Whenever this song is sung, it never fails to engage the audience. A rambling old man, his hat adorned with curious feathers and coat patched with various fabrics, is the subject of the song, as he travels from village to village, his footsteps a rhythm in the quiet countryside. With a warm smile, he calls to those who’ve lost their childlike wonder, their eyes clouded with the weight of adulthood, and gently reminds them of simpler times. 

A simple children’s song filled the air, the fiddle’s melody weaving through it, as the adults watched until the children’s dancing and singing became irresistible, pulling the adults into the joyful movement and song. Lost in their joy, they failed to notice the old man’s departure to the next village; his absence only marked by the faint scent of woodsmoke left behind. Listening to the words reveals the simplicity of the message.

The Burning Times Songs and their stories

Rise up  The song recounts the dramatic arrival of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Glenfinnan, detailing the rallying cry that echoed across Scotland, gathering support for his cause. Among the clamor for the fight, the rhythmic beat of the drums was almost deafening, a stark contrast to the despair in the hearts of those who knew their loved ones would not return.

O Woe, O Woe   A young highlander, his heart heavy with the memory of the lost battle, the cries of the dying still ringing in his ears, returned home only to find his wife and family brutally murdered by the redcoats. Then there was only one course of action left for him. The weight of his family’s honor propelled him forward, a storm of flashing steel and guttural cries filling the battlefield before the brutal end claimed him.

My Pretty Darling  The English government promised highlanders safety for their homes and families in exchange for their service in a Scottish regiment fighting abroad; this promise lured many to enlist. In this mournful song, a highlander’s wife describes their ravaged homeland in a letter to her husband—homes burned, the English promise broken, and many left for dead after their forced departure. The most brutal of betrayals; a whispered lie that shattered trust, leaving behind only a hollow ache. 

Skye Boat Song   This well-known Scottish folk song tells the romantic story of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape to the Isle of Skye, with Flora MacDonald’s assistance, filled with the drama and emotion of their journey. Robert Louis Stevenson, the famed Scottish writer, penned another set of lyrics featured in the Outlander series, starring Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe; the haunting melody perfectly complements the show’s dramatic scenes.

Run through the heather   The smoke still clinging to the air after the Culloden battle, many Highland warriors, their faces grim and bodies weary, secretly fled into the unforgiving landscape.  Hiding in the shadows during the day and running through the moonlit night. News of the redcoats’ brutal rampage reached their wives and children back home, bringing with it the stench of smoke and the cries of the suffering. They scrambled to gather meager supplies—a few pieces of bread, some ragged clothing—the icy air stinging their faces as they sought refuge in the remote, snow-dusted peaks. As time wore on, with their husbands still missing and food dwindling, they were cold and starving, their hope fading with each passing day. The acrid smell of smoke filled their nostrils as they returned to the charred remains of their home, where they were captured, their future uncertain and terrifying.

The Burning Times songs 6 to 10 story

O where are you my love   From the misty, rain-swept western isles came many to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie, their clans united under his banner. A young wife stands in the doorway of her lonely croft, the scent of woodsmoke and damp earth filling the air, her eyes searching the horizon, longing for her husband’s return and the feeling of his hand in hers. Just as she was about to succumb to hopelessness, she saw him - a figure in the distance, becoming clearer with every step - until she felt his arms around her. Home safe.

Farewell my darling  this is my favourite songs on the album. The sounds of clanking chains and pained groans filled the air as numerous highlanders, bound and shackled, were forced onto ships for deportation to faraway lands. The docks echoed with the cries of children as their wives watched helplessly, left alone and homeless, their futures uncertain. Overwhelmed with grief, the husband sobbed uncontrollably, his wife’s desperate cry echoing in his ears, each syllable a heavy weight, a desperate hope for a new life, a new provider for her and their children. The foreign land, with its rolling green hills and rugged coastline so similar to Scotland, made him realize that his home was where his heart was —and his heart belonged to her eternally. One can only imagine the agonizing pain and despair that those poor souls endured at that moment, their silent cries echoing in the emptiness.

Remember them  It’s a tribute to those who sacrificed everything, enduring unimaginable hardships in their struggle for liberty. The concluding reminder, a somber echo in the otherwise uplifting tone, was that freedom remained elusive, a goal to be achieved not through violence, but through the power of discourse.

Escape fom the burning times  is my second favourite song on the album. The story follows families, children nestled asleep in their arms, desperately escaping the redcoats through winding mountain passes, the scent of pine and fear thick in the air. Below, in the glen, the redcoats’ campfire crackled and popped, its light dancing on the faces of the approaching hunters; the rebels barely made it to the coast, collapsing onto the deck of the rescue ship with relief. The redcoats, cursing and spitting sand, retreated from the beach, their retreat marked by the rhythmic crash of waves.

I am the wind that blows    It’s a nostalgic expression, a yearning for self-determination, for the day when we can again be a free nation with our own government, echoing with the sounds of a free people. To become a member of the EU again. To maintain a peaceful friendship with the English people and strive for harmony. A little courage is all it takes, nurtured and expanded by every wind that blows, growing into something immense.