A Scottish Soldier

"A Scottish soldier" is a Scottish folk song.The lyrics were written by Andy Stewart. He said they came from his heart. The song is about a dying Scottish soldier, wishing to return to the hills of his homeland rather than die in Tyrol. The song was a significant international hit, and one of two US chart entries by Andy Stewart.

The tune, "The Green Hills of Tyrol", is a well-known melody in the Scottish bagpipe tradition and was written by John MacLeod during the Crimean War, and based on an alpine folk tune used in "William Tell".

The lyrics are as follows:

There was a soldier, a Scottish soldierWho wandered far away and soldiered far awayThere was none bolder, with good broad shoulderHe's fought in many a fray, and fought and won.He'd seen the glory and told the storyOf battles glorious and deeds victoriousBut now he's sighing, his heart is cryingTo leave these green hills of Tyrol.

Because these green hills are not highland hillsOr the island hills, the're not my land's hillsAnd fair as these green foreign hills may beThey are not the hills of home.

And now this soldier, this Scottish soldierWho wandered far away and soldiered far awaySees leaves are falling and death is callingAnd he will fade away, in that far land.He called his piper, his trusty piperAnd bade him sound a lay... a pibroch sad to playUpon a hillside, a Scottish hillsideNot on these green hills of Tyrol.

Because these green hills are not highland hillsOr the island hills, the're not my land's hillsAnd fair as these green foreign hills may beThey are not the hills of home.

And so this soldier, this Scottish soldierWill wander far no more and soldier far no moreAnd on a hillside, a Scottish hillsideYou'll see a piper play his soldier home.He'd seen the glory, he'd told his storyOf battles glorious and deeds victoriousThe bugles cease now, he is at peace nowFar from those green hills of Tyrol.

Because these green hills are not highland hillsOr the island hills, the're not my land's hillsAnd fair as these green foreign hills may beThey are not the hills of home.

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* [http://www.clandavidsonusa.com/thescottishsoldier.htm About the tune]
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