This was my late father's favourite song. He was a Yorkshireman born and bred. Born in 1930, in the winter of 1947 he travelled from Kingston Upon Hull to Fort George near Inverness to join The Seaforth Highlanders (it took him 24 hours to travel to Fort George). He even walked the 14 miles from Inverness to Ardesier. (Bear in mind it was the middle of winter and he was 17). He served for 22 years. This tune is very haunting and every time I hear the song or tune it brings back memories of my father listening to his Scottish folk songs on his record player. I am forever indebted to my father for the upbringing he gave us albeit strict. I miss my father so much. My dad, my hero.
31011962singapore what can you say in response to that?- apart from wow! Just wow! And thank you for sharing such a wonderful story about your father. My late paternal grandfather (d. 1995) too was a proud Yorkshireman, Sheffield-born and bred; he served in the Royal Artillery until just after WW2. I’m not from Yorkshire myself but extremely proud to say I have a great affection and affinity with the place. By the way I’ve been searching for this music for years and years and finally found it! So doubly happy 😀
My father passed away just over a year ago. Now he pissed me off on a daily basis, but I can't believe how much I miss him. I spread his ashes on his favourite Lewis beach and Dark Island fills me with such a deep longing, I ache for the Hebrides. Despite being a dyed in the wool teuchter, my very best friend in the world is a gigantic Yorkshireman.
My grandparents from Glasgow, they left for America, grandad got work in steelmills of Pittsburgh, I am so lucky to hane been born there BUT never forgot my roots.
I am now 63 years old and have grown up thanks to my Mom with the Irish Rovers From Our Little Green guy to the man in the middle that had a sparkling face even back in the 60s. Now it is 2020 still enjoying and may I give a special thank you to the fife player in the background but mean so much.
This is really a testament that it doesn't matter what instrument the soul decides to express it's feelings.This is a $10 whistle that owned my heart.God this is good.
This is the first time I'm watching this video. A brilliant rendition of this wonderful tune. To see Geoffrey playing the tin whistle....well....it makes it even more special. I love Spirit of the West.
remembering you playing that song for me in awee pub in portpatrick for me and it is still the best version thati have heard thanks and see you again john from glasgow
Brilliant I remember talking to this artist in a pub and asked if he could play that. Yes he did and it was brilliant to as a musician to play something and they did it for you right away thank u
От моих ласк Ты бы спал, Как в колыбели, Сладкие видев сны. От моих ласк Капает нежной капелью, Пкреполняясь В миг. Я убаюкиваю Движения, Только внутри поток. Вихри мои неоновые К центру несёт. Я омываю сердце, Будто держу в ладонях. Уложи на меня Буйну голову. Самые нежные поцелуи, Как электрические, Центриолям Свет сообщают. Просто светись от счастья, Пока спишь на моих коленях.
there's a version of this song with lyrics. here's a copy of them Away to the westward I'm longing to be Where the beauties of heaven Unfold by the sea Where the sweet purple heather blooms Fragrant and free On a hilltop high above The Dark Island So gentle the sea breeze That ripples the bay Where the stream joins the ocean And young children play On the strand of pure silver I'll welcome each day And I'll roam for ever more The Dark Island True gem of the Herbrides Bathed in the light Of the midsummer dawning That follows the night How I yearn for the cries Of the seagulls in flight As they circle above The Dark Island
Sons of Scotland! I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny! You come to fight as free men, and free men you are! What would you do without freedom? .. Fight and you may die! Run and you will live, at least for a while. And dying in your bed, MANY YEARS FROM NOW, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TRADE ALL THE DAYS FROM THIS DAY TO THAT FOR ONE CHANCE JUST ONE CHANCE TO COME BACK HERE AND TELL OUR ENEMIES THAT THEY MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM! ALBA GU BRAA!
VOTE YES! BREAK FREE FROM ENGLAND! YOU ARE A FREE NATION, THE INHERITORS OF YOUR HERO, SIR WILLIAM WALLACE, WHO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR YOUR FREEDOM, DO NOT BETRAY HIM - AGAIN!
+Yolanda Apagyi It's interesting how you use a lot of outdated revolutionary rhetoric. British people are free to an extent that you have never experienced and they have been so for centuries. The British Empire no longer exists and Scotland has never been a colony. William Wallace didn't shed his blood for Scottish freedom. He was disliked by many of his countrymen. The film Braveheart is total nonsense. His soldiers were not highland Scots, but lowlanders who didn't wear tartan. His own people gave him to the English because he was a warmongering nuisance. Mel Gibson is not very good with history. Wallace never met the English queen because she was only a child when he was executed., You ought to get some books covering Scottish history and you will learn that in 1603, the Scottish king, James VI, was invited to become king of England. He accepted and became James I of England and Scotland. Most Scottish people don't know where Hungary is. However, in 1956, we English gave homes and help to Hungarians who had to leave their country because of the uprising against Russia. Some of my childhood friends were Hungarians in exile. You really ought to visit Scotland to see how wrong you are in your perception of their position. They WERE FREE to vote whether they remained with us or not. They chose to remain with us. That doesn't sound like an oppressed people to me.
Scottish people, you will be in the first row of the british imperialist wars, as always, to die for the English Queen, what a nice future, congratulations, and receive my condolences! The bankers and the profit won against freedom, dignity and patriotism!
Yolanda Apagyi You're an idiot,. Even if they did manage to get "freedom" there is no such thing as FREEDOM in today's world, because they still might have joined the equally oppressive European Union
I am Yolanda, and you are an Idiot, sorry to meet you! YOU CAN BE FREE IN YOUR SPIRIT ALWAYS, IF YOU ARE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH AND NOT AN IDIOT, LIKE YOU! Try to read and try to think, not talk bullshit.! Shame on you, you Idiot! Shut up!
Greece showed that the cradle of civilization has been there! The intellingence, the heart won there not like in Scotland, which chose the fat purse from England instead of WILLIAM WALLACE"S FREEDOM! Hail Greece! Long live Greece! FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOM! Greetings from Hugnary!
This was my late father's favourite song. He was a Yorkshireman born and bred. Born in 1930, in the winter of 1947 he travelled from Kingston Upon Hull to Fort George near Inverness to join The Seaforth Highlanders (it took him 24 hours to travel to Fort George). He even walked the 14 miles from Inverness to Ardesier. (Bear in mind it was the middle of winter and he was 17). He served for 22 years. This tune is very haunting and every time I hear the song or tune it brings back memories of my father listening to his Scottish folk songs on his record player. I am forever indebted to my father for the upbringing he gave us albeit strict. I miss my father so much. My dad, my hero.
31011962singapore what can you say in response to that?- apart from wow! Just wow! And thank you for sharing such a wonderful story about your father. My late paternal grandfather (d. 1995) too was a proud Yorkshireman, Sheffield-born and bred; he served in the Royal Artillery until just after WW2. I’m not from Yorkshire myself but extremely proud to say I have a great affection and affinity with the place. By the way I’ve been searching for this music for years and years and finally found it! So doubly happy 😀
❤️❤️❤️
My father passed away just over a year ago. Now he pissed me off on a daily basis, but I can't believe how much I miss him. I spread his ashes on his favourite Lewis beach and Dark Island fills me with such a deep longing, I ache for the Hebrides. Despite being a dyed in the wool teuchter, my very best friend in the world is a gigantic Yorkshireman.
God bless him Sir 🏴
Awesome. God bless.
My grandparents from Glasgow, they left for America, grandad got work in steelmills of Pittsburgh, I am so lucky to hane been born there BUT never forgot my roots.
NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS MAN PLAYING, BEYOND AMAZING. THANK YOU.
My grandad used to play this on his mouthie and I'd sit on his lap. Still my favourite Highland song to sing.
Just discovered this song on my Spotify, weekly discovery. Just wow! I'm plumber by trade and heard it at work, made the whole crew listen to it.
I first heard this song in Nenw Zealand years ago at a Scottish dinner that was open to the public. A lady sang it and I fell in love with it.
I am now 63 years old and have grown up thanks to my Mom with the Irish Rovers From Our Little Green guy to the man in the middle that had a sparkling face even back in the 60s. Now it is 2020 still enjoying and may I give a special thank you to the fife player in the background but mean so much.
Wonderful , my very good friend and work colleague came from Dingwall , he was an amazing person and sadly missed , Dark Isle played at his funeral ❤️
thank goodness for TH-cam and the people who post these amazing performances for people like me who can not see them in person. Thank you so much.
This is really a testament that it doesn't matter what instrument the soul decides to express it's feelings.This is a $10 whistle that owned my heart.God this is good.
This is the first time I'm watching this video. A brilliant rendition of this wonderful tune. To see Geoffrey playing the tin whistle....well....it makes it even more special. I love Spirit of the West.
What can you say but brilliant!!
Hauntingly beautiful.
remembering you playing that song for me in awee pub in portpatrick for me and it is still the best version thati have heard thanks and see you again john from glasgow
Oh that tin whistle!❤️❤️❤️
Brilliant I remember talking to this artist in a pub and asked if he could play that. Yes he did and it was brilliant to as a musician to play something and they did it for you right away thank u
This song is wonderful when sang in Gaelic
BEAUTIFUL
A wonderful tribute to this song. Thank you.
Beautiful song, had it played on bagpipes at my mums funeral
I saw these guys in concert last sat it was amazing
How does it feel when you think about it now?
Hauntingly beautiful.I played this arrangement through guitar.Not easy,lol.
Great job guys. Wonderful version.
That, me son, was fawk'in wicked,...that whistle...the feeling and emotion....sweet Jasus....lol❤🎶❤🌼💖🌼💖🎶💖🎶💖🎶💖🎶❤🎶💖🎶🎶....NEWFOUNDLAND.💖
That song makes me sad. 😿
pure brilliantly played
So beautiful...
love the music :)
От моих ласк
Ты бы спал,
Как в колыбели,
Сладкие видев сны.
От моих ласк
Капает нежной капелью,
Пкреполняясь
В миг.
Я убаюкиваю
Движения,
Только внутри поток.
Вихри мои неоновые
К центру несёт.
Я омываю сердце,
Будто держу в ладонях.
Уложи на меня
Буйну голову.
Самые нежные поцелуи,
Как электрические,
Центриолям
Свет сообщают.
Просто светись от счастья,
Пока спишь на моих коленях.
So good! 👍
What is the meaning behind the song? To me, it is about leaving for sea, and towards the middle when it picks up, it is the joy of being at sea.
there's a version of this song with lyrics. here's a copy of them
Away to the westward
I'm longing to be
Where the beauties of heaven
Unfold by the sea
Where the sweet purple heather blooms
Fragrant and free
On a hilltop high above
The Dark Island
So gentle the sea breeze
That ripples the bay
Where the stream joins the ocean
And young children play
On the strand of pure silver
I'll welcome each day
And I'll roam for ever more
The Dark Island
True gem of the Herbrides
Bathed in the light
Of the midsummer dawning
That follows the night
How I yearn for the cries
Of the seagulls in flight
As they circle above
The Dark Island
Geoff Kelly is amazing!
I still miss the seagulls calling at the end of the song.......
God Bless!
that is awesome
Sehr geniales Lied und super gut gespielt. Weiß jemand welche Tin whistle es ist .
Classic Scot's tune....
Me too.
Its always played at my family funeral's
exelent your video is super perfect😭I am
musica buena TU IGUAL publicaste este video solo que con orquesta
Still needs more Seagulls.
The tin whistle was made for this song.
NEEDS MORE SEA GULLS!!!!!!!
Sons of Scotland! I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny! You come to fight as free men, and free men you are! What would you do without freedom? .. Fight and you may die! Run and you will live, at least for a while. And dying in your bed, MANY YEARS FROM NOW, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TRADE ALL THE DAYS FROM THIS DAY TO THAT FOR ONE CHANCE JUST ONE CHANCE TO COME BACK HERE AND TELL OUR ENEMIES THAT THEY MAY TAKE OUR LIVES, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM! ALBA GU BRAA!
😿
I thought this song was by Mike Oldfield
scottish song. mike oldfield mixed it with another scottish lament, flowers o the forest.
@@brucecollins4729 Oh... Okay, thanks!
@@monkegames6133 have to apologise. the song he mixed with flowers of the forest is the mingualy boat song. however, all three are scottish.
VOTE YES! BREAK FREE FROM ENGLAND! YOU ARE A FREE NATION, THE INHERITORS OF YOUR HERO, SIR WILLIAM WALLACE, WHO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR YOUR FREEDOM, DO NOT BETRAY HIM - AGAIN!
+Yolanda Apagyi It's interesting how you use a lot of outdated revolutionary rhetoric. British people are free to an extent that you have never experienced and they have been so for centuries. The British Empire no longer exists and Scotland has never been a colony. William Wallace didn't shed his blood for Scottish freedom. He was disliked by many of his countrymen. The film Braveheart is total nonsense. His soldiers were not highland Scots, but lowlanders who didn't wear tartan. His own people gave him to the English because he was a warmongering nuisance. Mel Gibson is not very good with history. Wallace never met the English queen because she was only a child when he was executed., You ought to get some books covering Scottish history and you will learn that in 1603, the Scottish king, James VI, was invited to become king of England. He accepted and became James I of England and Scotland. Most Scottish people don't know where Hungary is. However, in 1956, we English gave homes and help to Hungarians who had to leave their country because of the uprising against Russia. Some of my childhood friends were Hungarians in exile. You really ought to visit Scotland to see how wrong you are in your perception of their position. They WERE FREE to vote whether they remained with us or not. They chose to remain with us. That doesn't sound like an oppressed people to me.
Jingo idiot.
Boring zzzzzzz
🐳😿
Is it me, or does it not sound well...
It misses, I think, a key component...
Gàidhealtachd pipes?
The simple fact remains that 16bluesherbert90 is the most adorable and beautiful of all the women ❤.
Scottish people, you will be in the first row of the british imperialist wars, as always, to die for the English Queen, what a nice future, congratulations, and receive my condolences! The bankers and the profit won against freedom, dignity and patriotism!
Yolanda Apagyi You're an idiot,. Even if they did manage to get "freedom" there is no such thing as FREEDOM in today's world, because they still might have joined the equally oppressive European Union
I am Yolanda, and you are an Idiot, sorry to meet you! YOU CAN BE FREE IN YOUR SPIRIT ALWAYS, IF YOU ARE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH AND NOT AN IDIOT, LIKE YOU! Try to read and try to think, not talk bullshit.! Shame on you, you Idiot! Shut up!
Fascistisch Übermensch! Die!
Yolanda Apagyi Like I said, stay off the internet, a woman's place is in the kitchen
why you so angry
Greece showed that the cradle of civilization has been there! The intellingence, the heart won there not like in Scotland, which chose the fat purse from England instead of WILLIAM WALLACE"S FREEDOM! Hail Greece! Long live Greece! FREEEEEEEEEEEEDOM! Greetings from Hugnary!
Boring zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz