Scotland and Her Bonnie Prince Charlie- "Skye Boat Song"

When you watch an episode of Starz hit television show, Outlander, you are treated to an, edited for time, version of "Skye Boat Song" performed by Bear McCreary feat. Raya Yarbrough. This is a song that was written about a historical event, and is considered a folk song in Scotland that has been recorded a number of times since it was written. Written in the 19th century by Sir Harold Boulton, the song's lyrics told the story of the escape of Scotland's Bonnie Prince Charlie to the Isle of Skye following the Jacobite Revolution's defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Bonnie Prince Charlie, with the aide of the sympathies of Flora MacDonald, said to be disguised as a maid was able to obtain the passes needed to make the trip to the Isle of Skye where he continued movement to avoid capture.

However, the lyrics in the theme performance are not the original lyrics to the song.

In 1885, Robert Louis Stevenson, on a visit to Scotland was sung the original song. He was so not impressed with the lyrics to the song that he decided to write his own version of the lyrics. This happens to be the version we hear at the beginning of every episode of "Outlander".

Despite what Robert Louis Stevenson thinks, I am of the thought that when reading both versions, his version takes the song on a totally different journey than the original text accomplishes.

Stevenson's version of the song, with the line of the chorus "Sing me a song of a lass that is gone", creates an obvious connection to the plot of Outlander. A woman thrust through time just appears to be gone, taken to a time where Highlander culture is still alive and well; a time before the fall of the Jacobite Revolution at the Battle of Culloden.

Whereas the original lyrics elude more to the fall of the Jacobite Revolution, the destruction of Highlander culture, and the escape of Prince Charlie to the Isle of Skye.

The text of the original lyrics as follows:

[Chorus:]

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.

1. Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,

Thunderclaps rend the air;

Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,

Follow they will not dare.

[Chorus]

2. Many's the lad, fought on that day

Well the claymore did wield;

When the night came, silently lay

Dead on Culloden's field.

[Chorus]

3. Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,

Ocean's a royal bed.

Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep

Watch by your weary head.

[Chorus]

4. Burned are their homes, exile and death

Scatter the loyal men;

Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath

Charlie will come again.

Well, reading the original lyrics to the song, you can probably understand why the producers of the show picked the Stevenson version of the song and why it is the version that is most covered by artists.

However, I feel the original version, despite it's seemingly literal take on the events of the fall of the Jacobite Revolution, is the best place to start in understanding exactly the viewpoint many still have in 2023 about Scotland independence.

"Charlie will come again."

At this point with Scotland still tied to the United Kingdom, we have yet to see if there is room for Scottish independence, or if it truly died on that field in Culloden in 1746.