Caledonia (song)

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For other songs known as "Caledonia", see "Jamie Raeburn", "Canada-I-O" and "Amy MacDonald".

For the jump blues song, see "Caldonia"

"Caledonia" (also known as "Jean and Caledonia") (Roud # 3801) is a Scottish folk ballad.

It first appeared in the song-book "Pocket Songster or Caledonian Warbler" in 1823. "Sair, sair was my heart, an' the tears stood in my een/As I viewed my native hills an' I thought upon my Jean." Pressed by poverty, the two sadly part; he promises to be true, and wed no other, and someday to come back to marry her.

"Caledonia" is also the name of a modern Scottish folk ballad, written by Dougie MacLean somewhere between 1974 and 1977[1] and published in 1979 on an album of the same name[2]. It has the lyrics "Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm going home". MacLean plays the song in the key of E using Open C tuning with a capo on the 4th fret, as can be seen in video recordings[3]. This version has been covered by artists including Frankie Miller and Fish. It is included in the 2007 album release by Celtic Woman, A New Journey, sang by Lisa Kelly.
The song is also covered by the Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini on a special version of his album These Streets. The cover on this album is a live recording. Another cover was included as a hidden track on singer/songwriter Amy Macdonald's album 'This is the life'

[edit] Cross references

• Compare with "Erin's Flowery Vale" also known as "The Irish Girl's Lament" or "Dobbin's Flowey Vale" (Roud 999, Laws O29) (plot) and references there

[edit] References

1. Robert Ford, Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland (one-volume edition, 1904), pp. 237-239, "Jean and Caledonia" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. John Ord, Bothy Songs and Ballads (1930; Reprint edition with introduction by Alexander Fenton printed 1995), p. 116, "Jean and Caledonia" (1 text)
3. Roud Folk Song Index #3801