Since ever I attended SNP conferences, a bunch of singers and musicians have always found a place to have a right good session. Often, we ended the night with several national songs from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Kurdistan etc. In 1989 I offered a song list for young Scots. (see below)
Ten years ago, party bosses dropped the singing of Scots Wha Hae at the close of conference. But a stubborn bunch of activists still find spaces to sing old protest songs and new.
November 30th 2023, the 100th anniversary of John MacLean’s death, prompted a competition for new songs to celebrate the Red Clydeside radicals. Party activists from North Ayrshire who asked how we could introduce such spirited songs of Scotland’s struggles to younger members.
We decided to build a list of newer songs than those in the original Rebels Ceilidh Song Book published by the Bo’ness Rebels Literary Society in the 1960s. In those days the ’folk river’ or ’carrying stream’ pitched rebellion against the nuclear submarines on the Clyde, celebrated the liberation of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, opposed apartheid, and lots of chorus songs on shipyard workers causes and land raids. Contemporary songs with shafts of humour were popular. Markedly, we often cover the same issues today.
Tastes develop as the folk river flows on. Some older songs stand the test of time and are joined by new ones poking fun at or encouraging resistance to injustices today. We need lots more songs for today’s generation of activists so we are collecting a new Rebels Song list.
In today’s terms we are Independentista, green socialist, Communautaire and naturally internationalist.
To quote Willie Kellock in his 1960s preface, “It is a Rebels Song Book uniting all the varieties of the Scottish Rebels to the realisation that what’s wrong with the world is wrong here and now in Scotland”.
I’m pleased John Swinney our new SNP Leader and FM, in his Holyrood acceptance speech, quoted from Hamish Henderson’s Freedom Come all Ye.
We want to collect songs that inspire hope for a bright future, encourage laughter at our own foibles and reach out a hand to those who need it. To quote Pete Seeger the American activist singer and co-writer of ‘We shall overcome’, we want ‘to put songs on people’s lips instead of just in their ears’.
Join us. Rob Gibson June 2024
And thus it began anew…
We tried out some song sheets for the Inverness SNP Burns Supper in late January. This gave us a start to see folks join in. We extended the song list and by May we were offered a chance to sing in the SNP shop in Largs with a dozen members who got to hear about the songs and their writers. It felt a good way to go.
With the General Election in July distorting the minds of most voters, removing the Tories and making change happen, it pruned the SNP MP ranks. We felt like rebelling even more! SNP Annual Conference was scheduled for late August which made me realise that the Edinburgh SNP Club would be a good gathering place to sing from the extended song lists of the New Rebels Ceilidh Song Book.
Previous discussions with my collaborators highlighted copyright issues which had not hindered the original collection from Bo-Ness. Their acknowledgements and permissions were noted. But in this litigious age we realised that you could Google most of the words and on YouTube listen to the tunes. That makes circulation of song lists a prompt rather than a breach of rights.
Turning to the contents, in the original 1960s Song Book there were four songs in Gaelic, twenty-five songs in Scots and six songs in Irish/English/Scottish English. Of these I judge twenty-four to be political and eleven non-political.
In the new draft song list there are twelve songs in Scots, eighteen songs in American/Irish and Scots English. None chosen yet in Gaelic. Of my list twenty-five are political and five non-political. No bias on my part, Runrig’s Alba and the Stone of Destiny heist, Oran na Cloiche. We will seek other new Gaelic militant songs.
Because some songs are not on records, I have decided to upload some Highland rebel songs onto YouTube. Singer-songwriters like Andy Mitchell and the late Colin F MacKenzie as well as American Duo Magpie have crafted some excellent material for which we have live recording
Other items are new protests on subjects like the nuclear threat and the behaviour of colonialist exclusive leisure companies. Many more subject will emerge. Yet the targets of satire and protest remain very similar to the 1960s.
What is next? The opinion of some who attended the Rebels Ceilidh on August 31st was the possibility to hold such gatherings in areas where we could muster a group to play and a possible Yes audience to join us. That we shall work on next.
Top left, title of 1989 song book, Rob and singers, Largs 05 24, Clare and John Adamson singing 31 08 24. Bottom left, Rob leading a song 31 08 24, Rebels Ceilidh Poster 31 08 24, Dolina MacLennan story telling 31 08 24 SNP Club Edinburgh.
RCSB Original Song List
The Badge of Scotland – Foghnan na h-Alba, as sung by Donald Campbell
Bo’Ness Ballad of “Corbieha’ Braes”, words Poet Grant, Newton, BN
John MacLean March, HH
The Taxi Driver’s Cap, tune Lincolnshire Poacher or MacNamara’s Band
D-Day Dodgers , tune Lily Marleen, words HH and squaddies
Wee Magic Stane, tune Ould Oraqnge Flute, words John McEvoy
The Stane’s Awa, tune The Deil’s Awa wi’ the Exciseman, words Norman McCaig
Reivin’ Song, tune Muckin’ O Geordie’s Byre’, words Tom Law
Mhic Iarla Nam Bratch Bana, as sung by Kitty MacLeod
‘S Ann An Ile Bhoidhich, port a Beul
Tiugainn Do Scalpaidh , words And music copyright, courtesy John Morrison
Johnnie Lad
The Day We Went To Rothesay, O, as sung by John McEvoy
Glory O, tune The Bold Fenian Men, as sung by Hugh MacDonald
The Foggy Dew, as sung by Hugh MacDonald
Bonnie Wee Prince Chairlie, tune O Ro Se, words Thurso Berwick
The Recruiting Sergeant, as sung by Hugh MacDonald
Grieves Galorum, tune Soutar’s Feast, word Thurso Berwick
Thew Happy Blunderer, words Norman Buchan
The Labour Provost, tune White Cockade, words Iain Nicolson
The South Down Militia
Coronation Coronach, tune The Sash, words Thurso Berwick
Come A Ye Tramps and Hawkers, as sung by Jimmy McBeth
Tay Boat Song, as sung by Margaret MacKay
The Hiking Song, as sung by Margaret Kellock
Nicky Tams, as sung by John McEvoy
The Barnyards o Delgaty
Ballad O Ballelone, tune Eppie Moray, words Thurso Berwick
Ballad of the Men of Knoydart, tune Johson’s Motor Car, words Seamas Mor, HH
Sky-High Joe, tune Ricky Do Dum Day, words Thurso Berwick
Ballad of the Inch, tune Castles in the Air.
Billet-Doux, tune Corn Rigs, words, Thurso Berwick
Sky-High Pantomime, tune Harlaw, words Thurso Berwick
Ballad O the Lea-Rig Bar, tune Tae the Beggin I will go. Willie Kellock
MacPherson’s Farewell, as sung by Jimmy McBeath
My 1989 collection for Young Scots
The NEW Rebels Ceilidh Song List – find the tunes on YouTube.
A Man’s a Man for A That – Robert Burns, 1794 published anon in Glasgow, a year before his death.
Both sides the Tweed – James Hogg adapted by Dick Gaughan, a plea for the rights of both Scots and English nations.
Caledonia 1985 – Dougie MacLean, written while homesick in Brittany, now embedded in the tradition.
The Changes 1985 – Andy Mitchell, in the Ullapool Bi-Centenary Song Book. It shares his fears for future of fishing.
Coming Home 1990 Steven Clark, Scottish welcome to refugees.
Your Daughter and Your Sons – Tommy Sands, a fervent call for peace and humanity.
Dominie – Matt McGinn, pungent tribute to John MacLean, Marxist teacher and revolutionary.
Don’t think twice it’s alright – Bob Dylan, think, Scotland’s conflicted relations with London rule.
Doon in the wee room – Trad, additional current verses re Clyde ferries.
Freedom Come All Ye – Hamish Henderson 1960 aiding the anti-nuclear cause. Ding Dong Dollar.
Green Grow the Rashes O – Robert Burns, Mauchline days enjoying the lassies, poetry & society.
Hope Over Fear – Gerry Cinnamon, premier anthem of the 2014 Independence Referendum.
Indiana – Andy Mitchell, for his friends who decided to return to Scotland from the USA.
Independence Day - Findask – so near and yet so far, written in 1986.
Ye Jacobites By Name – Robert Burns. With reggae beat, Ye Warmongerers by name (Brina)
Jamie Foyers – Ewan MacColl – based on a Napoleonic War song of a Perthshire soldier, MacColl wrote his version in the Spanish Civil War. The price of democracy is eternal vigilance.
John MacLean March 1948 – Hamish Henderson, commemorates his death 25 years on.
MacPherson’s Rant – trad. refreshed by Burns. James McPherson hanged in Banff as a gipsy 1700.
New Lights Shinning in the Glen -1993 - Andy Mitchell. Praising the first crofters ever to buy their land, the Assynt Crofters.
No Man’s Land – Welcome the Stranger - Colin F MacKenzie, Strath Halladale, never more needed.
Nuclear Dustbin – Lyon & MacLaren with additions by RG,1980s threat of dumping. Exposed plans for atomic explosion off Wick: Nirex: Cape Wrath: planned deep burial of sub hulks in Minch: now Starmer’s finger on the nuclear trigger.
Parcel O Rogues, Robert Burns, ‘Bolshie political edge as a Crown civil servant – he took the money and sang.’ Wrote Robert Crawford.
Song for Scotland 1986 Magpie. Americans saw Scotland as a prime nuclear Cold War target.
Scotland Yet 1996 – Davy Steele – for the 1997 devo referendum, an evergreen anthem.
Smile in Your Sleep - Jim McLean, read Donald MacLeod, Gloomy Memories in 1960 and wrote three songs of the Sutherland Clearances.
Taymouth Unlimited –by Lawers Lad, a satire on colonial, elite, gated tourism by Loch Tay.
The Dawning of the Day – The Corries, all the incitement you need to forge ahead.
This Land Is Your Land – Woodie Guthrie – adapted in 2014 version for Scotland by RG.
Viva Cunninghame Graham – Rob Gibson, the life of RBCG in five verses, put to Paul Mounsey tune, Don Roberto’s Sabbath.
Wild Geese – Violet Jacob poem, tune by Jim Reid on an exile’s longing for home in Angus.
Wild Mountain Thyme – McPeake Family, adapted the Robert Tannahill song ‘The Braes of Balquidder.
Some previous references
Headful of Highland Songs Journeying Hopefully Thanks to Seamas Mor – RG in Borne on the Carrying Stream, Ed. E Bort. Pub. Gracenotes 2010.
The Eskimo Republic – Scots Political Song in Action 1951 – 1999. Ewan McVicar, Gallus Publishing 2010. RG contributed. Now on a digital edition is published 2024.
Celebrating European and Scottish Folk Day 2024
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