Emigrantvisa from Mountscribe by Rowan Piggott
This parting song takes its melody from a traditional Swedish emigrant song (“Nu står jag på min resa”) that I learnt in Rättvik, Dalarna. I wrote two verses of words in English to match the sentiment of leaving so that I could use it as a goodnight song in sessions when the Parting Glass didn’t seem appropriate.
The last tune is by John Brady of Co. Offaly, and has the wonderful title:
The Beauties of Autumn
Tracklist
| 12. | Emigrantvisa | 4:40 |
Lyrics
Tonight I must journey to a far-off land,
One from whence I may never return.
Farewell you fine fellows, may you understand
That my heart will for you ever yearn.
As the ship leaves the shore I will weep the more
For the friends and the lovers I've left before,
But it's you who are here who'll I'll hold most dear
When I'm standing alone at the stern.
When out 'cross the water rings a clear ahoy
And a coastline appears at the prow,
I'll think on this night and be filled with joy
For the songs that I sing with you now.
It'll always bring cheer these tunes to hear,
It'll lighten my heart and will turn my ear
When I hear them sung in a foreign tongue
And I'm standing alone at the bow.
Credits
Rowan Piggott – Voice / Fiddle
Charlie Piggott – Button Accordion
License
All rights reserved.
Rowan is a fiddle-singer, writer and tunesmith who grew up in the foothills of the Burren on the west coast of Ireland, surrounded by traditional music. The author of two successful tunebooks, he has also written articles for The Living Tradition magazine and led fiddle workshops at festivals all over the country. In 2016, he won the Future of Young Folk Award at Bromyard Folk Festival.