When I moved to London 18 years ago, I shared a flat with a Scottish friend, Alison. She introduced me to the Scottish folk band Old Blind Dogs. On evenings when we felt homesick we would put on their CD’s, turn up the volume and - with dram in hand - would think of home. Eighteen years later, Melanie and I are driving across Alabama to hear a great Scottish singer Jim Malcolm who was part of Old Blind Dogs all those years ago.
On a stormy evening in November, a group of fans gather in the intimate setting of the Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts in Florence, Alabama. It is like being in somebody’s sitting room and Jim is there with guitar, harmonica and accompanied by Scooter Muse on banjo. It is a great evening of good songs, music and chat.
Jim has been on the road for a few weeks, starting in Albuquerque in New Mexico and travelling east. He notes the many towns and cities with Scottish names that he has passed through on his journey. Some of them like Dallas and Houston are great metropolis compared to their Scottish counterparts, but all are reminders of the influence of the Scots and the Scots-Irish who came here seeking new opportunities. However, Jim’s song, From the Clyde to Susquehanna, is a reminder that coming to the States was a hard life for many, and some lost all they had in an attempt to make their fortune.
Having been on the road for some weeks, Jim’s thoughts turned to Scotland. He sings The Wild Geese, a sad song of the exile longing for Scotland, “Oh tell me what was on your road, ye roarin’ norlan’ wind, As ye cam’ blawin’ frae the land that’s niver frae my mind?”. Eighteen years on, I don’t feel so homesick for Scotland, but it makes me feel good to hear Jim's songs. Proud too.
Driving back to our home in Atlanta we listen to Jim’s take on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Alabama “anthem”, Sweet Home Caledonia. Indeed!
No comments:
Post a Comment