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SG1030
Oh! why left I my hame
words by Robert Gilfillan
tune traditional, arranged by Richard John
for unaccompanied soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus
SATB  performance time approx 3m 45s
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| Arranger's note
Robert Gilfillan (1798 – 1850) actually spent his whole life in Scotland, though other
Gilfillans emigrated to the USA and Canada. He was born in Dunfermline, just north of
Edinburgh, and his working life included spells as cooper, wine-merchant and tax collector,
but his vocation was for song-writing and his songs were popular throughout
Scotland. This is the song for which he is best known.
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| Words
Oh! why left I my hame
Oh! why left I my hame? Why did I cross the deep?
Oh! why left I the land, where my forefathers sleep?
I sigh for Scotia's shore, and I gaze across the sea,
But I canna get a blink o' my ain countrie.
The palm-tree waveth high, and fair the myrtle springs,
And, to the Indian maid, the bulbul sweetly sings;
But I dinna see the broom wi' its tassels on the lea, [lea = grassland]
Nor hear the lintie's sang o' my ain countrie. [lintie = linnet]
Oh! here no Sabbath bell awakes the Sabbath morn,
Nor song of reapers heard amang the yellow corn: [amang = among]
For the tyrant's voice is here, and the wail of slaverie;
But the sun of freedom shines in my ain countrie.
There's a hope for ev'ry woe, and a balm for ev'ry pain;
But the first joys of our heart come never back again.
There's a track upon the deep, and a path across the sea,
But the weary ne'er return to their ain countrie.
Robert Gilfillan (1798 - 1850)
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| Price
The price of this piece depends on the number of singers in your group. This is a single payment for a licence to make as many copies as you need for your group to rehearse and perform the song as often as you wish. Copies of the song must not be given, lent or sold to any other group.
| Number of singers in your group
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| up to 12 singers | 13 to 24 singers | 25 singers or more
| £7 (approx US$10.00)
| £14 (approx US$20)
| £21 (approx US$30)
| Please note that your Paypal transaction will be in sterling but it should automatically
be converted if your credit card draws on a different currency.
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| Companion pieces
Browse the 'Scots and Gaelic' or 'World folk and traditional' section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.
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