3.17. Scotlands Glory - Runrigs Ballads (1999 EMI) 3.17.1. Headlights 3.17.2. The Greatest Flame 3.17.3. Every River 3.17.4. Dream Fields 3.17.5. I'll Keep Coming Home 3.17.6. Eirinn 3.17.7. Road And The River 3.17.8. Forever Eyes Of Blue 3.17.9. Precious Years 3.17.10. The Dancing Floor 3.17.11. An Ubhal As Airde - The Highest Apple 3.17.12. The Mighty Atlantic / Mara Theme 3.17.13. This Time Of Year 3.17.14. Hearts Of Olden Glory 3.17.15. Abhainn An T-Sluaigh - The Crowded River 3.17.16. Going Home 3.17.17. Loch Lomond

3.17.1. Headlights
The headlights swing across the naked heath
Through the silent miles the empty spaces
With the drinking boys
The dancing wine
Somewhere outside the laughing glass burns in your eye
Elvis is still the king the long road home
The flushed caress the trembling heart
She's in your arms electric chord's accordian bands
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3.17.2. The Greatest Flame
Like shadows on the wall
You come and you go
Through the streets
And the rain that falls down
On our sin
No more goodbyes
Forever this way
Whenever the greatest flame in the world
Starts burning
This is our life, and our time
And nothing, is ever going to break us
Now we're on our own
Always in your eyes
A waking of souls
We gaze out on the road
That brought us up
To this place
The signposts never change
We'll go where they lead
Whenever the day to break us comes
We'll not give in
This is our life, and our time
And nothing, is ever going to break us
Now we're on our own
This is our place, in our lives
And no one can ever change this moment
Or pull this mountain to the ground
Live the day when the flame is strong
Live the day when the flame is strong
Come the day when love is gone
Take it over, Take it over
Live the day when the flame is strong
Live the day when the flame is strong
Come the day when love is gone
Take it over
This is our life, and our time
And nothing, is ever going to break us
Now we're on our own
This is our place, in our lives
And no one can ever change this moment
Or pull this mountain to the ground
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3.17.3. Every River
You ask me to believe in magic
Expect me to commit suicide of the heart
And you ask me to play this game without question
Raising the stakes on this shotgun roulette
Every river I try to cross
Every hill I try to climb
Every ocean I try to swim
Every road I try to find
All the ways of my life
I'd rather be with you
There's no way
Without you
But you came to me like the ways of children
Simple as breathing, easy as air
Now the years hold no fears, like the wind they pass over
Loved, forgiven, washed, saved
Every river I try to cross
Every hill I try to climb
Every ocean I try to swim
Every road I try to find
All the ways of my life
I'd rather be with you
There's no way
Without you
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3.17.4. Dream Fields
You can talk the tongue of angels
You can walk the thin white line
Raid your hearts imaginations
Let your thoughts live and run wild
But now all I see is the station
And the boats with the sun in their wake
Looking out on Scalpay dawning
And you drenched in the rain of grace
Walked down the pier road to the deep sea
It was a long confused embrace
But I have seen an awesome beauty
I've seen the tears run turn to wine on your face
And I wondered and I trembled
As you held me so close in your arms
With a love that held more learning
Than I could ever understand
Still grass grows tall in the dream fields
But after all is said and done
The only thing that ever matters
Is to love and to be loved
Still grass grows tall in the dream fields
But after all is said and done
The only thing that ever matters
Is to love and to be loved
I crossed the big years and the waters
For a new and happy land
Trading all that fire of living
For the fickle and the bland
Now I know that there's nothing
Can evermore put worth in your time
If the spirit never wooes
Or moves your paths divine
Still grass grows tall in the dream fields
But after all is said and done
The only thing that ever matters
Is to love and to be loved
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3.17.5. I'll Keep Coming Home
When I'm away please take good care of my heart
And when I'm gone say a prayer for love
'Cause there's cities and clouds in my eyes
The empty streets and the raining nights
Wherever the highway unwinds
I'll keep coming home
Love on a wire
Strangers walk out on the town
Long distance words
Outside leave the night to the young
Cause its touchdowns runways and roads
The bright lights the silver and gold
Wherever the moment goes cold
I'll keep coming home
I'll keep coming home to you
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3.17.6. Eirinn
What makes me walk through Ireland's shrines
And Ireland's holy shores
To see a country crucified
Your beauty crowned in thorns
A as I watch the wondrous cross
That's been hewn down and severed in two
There's something here
That draws me near
To wear the green for you
To see you there blood brother Gael
The face, the tongue my own
Many places in my own country
Could not make me feel more at home
Laughter and music through the night
Your freedom in the dark
Tonight I swear I'd gladly wear
The green next to my heart
From the long and rolling Antrim hills
Through the wilds of Donegal
The songs of history are sung
Every stone on every wall
But here in our land how can we stand
And wash our hands of shame
When the sins of generations fall
Across the green like rain
Here one world window opens wide
And demons they show face
Some of your men have taken seeds of truth
And planted fields of hate
This way has never won a war
And I fear that when the harvest comes
You'll see your freedom fall on stoney ground
And the green overgrown
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3.17.7. Road And The River
Sun comes up on these mountain braes
And it's breaking on the high ground
And the rolling road
And the rolling river
Are all that I have to hold
There in your arms
There in your arms
I went walking in the world
The voice of many waters
In the waking cascade
In the breathing we wait
On the rolling road
On the rolling road
May you always be freedom
And the rolling road
And the rolling river
Are ad that I have to hold
There in your arms
There's a presence in the wind
And it holds all departed
And I'm here in the power
And the long passing hour
The light rushing in
Great great gentle giver
All the craving I see
Falling way beyond me
On the rolling road
On the rolling road
May you always be freedom
And the rolling road
And the rolling river
Are all that I have to hold
There in your arms
There in your arms
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3.17.8. Forever Eyes Of Blue
Head of ribbons running down the brae
In the morning, in the morning
Barefoot sisters and a milking pail
Turning around
At the weekend the boats come in
From the herring, from the herring
Wives and families and the table laid
Turning again
Forever you'll be eyes of blue
In the circle of your youth
Picking every blade of truth
Down the Newton road
War is over and the boys come home
From the fighting, from the fighting
Love letters and a great unknown
Turning again
Counting your blessings at the village hall
To the dancing, to the dancing
A lot of loving and a lot of soul
Turning again
Forever you'll be eyes of blue
In the circle of your youth
Picking every blade of truth
Down the Newton road
You took your beauty and your heart of gold
To the alter, to the alter
Bound forever in an August vow
Turning around
The skies of summer shone around your door
Little children, little children
Three men who couldn't love you more
Turning again
Forever you'll be eyes of blue
In the circle of your youth
Picking every blade of truth
Down the Newton road
One door opens and another closed
Oh the parting, oh the parting
New arrivals and a family grown
Turning around
Head of ribbons running down the brae
In the morning, in the morning
Pulling moments from the clock of faith
Turning again
Forever you'll be eyes of blue
In the circle of your youth
Picking every blade of truth
Down the Newton road
Forever you'll be eyes of blue
In the circle of your youth
Picking every blade of truth
Down the Newton road
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3.17.9. Precious Years
It's all over now, no more summers in heaven
After World War Two wed and a life of ups and downs
I see it now, precious even on paper
A young man and his bride and someone to make time stand still
But now I know and I don't want to believe it
Where does it leave you now
That the precious years are gone
All things remain to ignore and outlive you
From the man in the moon to the greenhills outside your door
Alone you came so alone you must go now
There's no mountain on earth can ever outlive your soul
But now I know and I don't want to believe it
Where does it leave you now
That the precious years are gone
I know you well, you'll be nothing but grateful
Never let it be said they were spent in thoughtless ways
Warm winds blow 'cross the ties that bind forever
For a place in the sun and for the hearts of love a home
But now I know and I don't want to believe it
Where does it leave you now
That the precious years are gone
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3.17.10. The Dancing Floor
Beside the braes of dawn
One clear new morning
Down where the lilies stood in bloom
I knew that I was just a stranger in this world
A wind just passing through
So we dared to stay
In these golden ways
We never never knew what to do
And the world kept coming screaming
All it's news at me
Well, now I've got news for you
So let me take you down to the dancing floor
You can walk out on the crowd
Let us waltz away what's left of the living years
In celebration of the loved
No nothing's all that it seems
In the strands and the waves
Our steps renewed our lips confess
We were stranded at the alter of unknown delights
Down on the road to happiness
And as the sunlight fills
The highland hills
It's all become so clear somehow
That the days we spend
Were not made to end
We stand forever in thier glow
So let me take you down to the dancing floor
You can walk out on the crowd
Let us waltz away what's left of the living years
In celebration of the loved
It's all glitz and sparkle down on the dancing floor
We can turn our lives around
Just leave behind that wretch that you have been
With the fool that I'd become
Now the hours are few
And the days can be so cruel (so cruel)
Yes, the night are getting long (the nights are getting long)
And that joy that you would always bring
It'll always keep me strong
So let me take you down to the dancing floor
You can walk out on the crowd
Let us waltz away what's left of the living years
In celebration of the loved
It's all glitz and sparkle tonight on the dancing floor
We can turn our lives around
Just leave behind that wretch that you have been
With the fool that I'd become
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3.17.11. An Ubhal As Airde - The Highest Apple
Comhla rium
A tha thu an drasd
Mo shuilean duinte, mo chuimhne dan
Nam sheasamh a' coimhead
Gach cnoc is gach traigh
Is an siol a dh'fhag thu ann a 'fas
Tha an garradh lan
Le craobhan treun
Le meas a' fas dhuinn ann ri bhuain
Ubhlan abaich
Milis geur
Ach tha aon ubhal nach ruig sinn idir air
Seididh gaoth is dearrsaidh grian
Tro mheas nan craobhan lin gu lin
Ach thig an la is thig an t-am
Airson an ubhal as airde
Air a' chraobh a bhuain
Is co 'nar measg
A mhaireas la
Seachad air am is air oidhche fhein
A liuthad uair
A shreap mi suas
Airson an ubhal as airde chur gu beul
Seididh gaoth is dearrsaidh grian
Tro mheas nan craobhan lin gu lin
Ach thig an la is thig an t-am
Airson an ubhal as airde
Air a' chraobh a bhuain
At present
All you were is with me
My eyes closed, my memory confident
Standing here watching
Each hill and shoreline
With the seed you left
Still growing
The garden is well stocked
With mighty trees
With fruit growing for the whole world
Ripe, sweet
And bitter apples
And the one apple
That is beyond reach
The winds will blow
And the sun will shine
From generation to generation
Through the trees of the garden
But the day and the hour
Will surely come
To take the highest apple
From the knowledge tree
Who amongst us
Can exist a single day
Beyond our own time and our own limits
Countless and futile
Are times I've climbed
To reach and taste
The forbidden fruit
The winds will blow
And the sun will shine
From generation to generation
Through the trees of the garden
But the day and the hour
Will surely come
To take the highest apple
From the knowledge tree
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3.17.12. The Mighty Atlantic / Mara Theme
The roll of the wind
As we sail across the water
The roll of the sea
As we're taken through the night
The dimming lamp of day
Leaves the crimson foam and spray
Across the face of the mighty Atlantic
In this cradle we found love
In our lifetimes we were broken
By the spirit we were turned
Here we touched the hope divine
And in the rapture and the charm
Came the tranquil and the calm
On the rage of the mighty Atlantic
Deepest grave, supreme deceiver
Brave new worlds and cursed emotion
Let your people go, bring me a saviour
White doves rise above the ocean
The brightness of the lights
As they stretch across the water
The excitement of the night
As we're carried through the seas
There's a welcome lies in store
The strongest arms I've ever known
In the homes of the mighty Atlantic
For the roll it is gentle
As the waves, they guide you over
Full new moon across the stern flag
Our different worlds in constant motion
The roll of the wind
As we sail across the waters
The roll of the sea
As we're taken through the night
I'm coming home it's late
And you know I just can't wait
For the shores of the mighty Atlantic
For the shores of the mighty Atlantic
For the shores of the mighty Atlantic
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3.17.13. This Time Of Year
The snow lies high around my door
And beyond the Great North Road
There calls this restless soul
To journey home
The wind blows coldly through the trees
But I will feel no fear
To the ones you call your own
Is where I'm going
This time of year
This time of year
At this time I think of you
Sometimes it's hard to close a door
The future can be cold
Another year has turned
And you're not here
A yellow moon runs deep and bright
Where the mountains stand on ice
And a million stars
They fire the skies tonight
You can tell me, flowers never bend
Or that this world's at an end
But don't tell me
That we'll never meet again
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3.17.14. Hearts Of Olden Glory
There's thunder clouds
Round the hometown bay
As I walk out
In the rain
Through the sepia showers
And the photoflood days
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Of life
And though the water's
Black as night
The colours of Scotland
Leave you young inside
There must be a place
Under the sun
Where hearts of olden glory
Grow young
There's a vision
Coming soon
Through the faith
That cleans your wound
Hearts of olden glory
Will be renewed
Down the glens
Where the headlands stand
I feel a healing
Through this land
A cross for a people
Like wind through your hands
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
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3.17.15. Abhainn An T-Sluaigh - The Crowded River
Chan eil an t-adhar os cionn Lunnainn
A-nochd soileir no dorch
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
Gun sgial air coinneal mor latha
No reultan na h-oidhche
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
An sea s'am baile gun chadal
Gun fhois is gun saorsa
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
Casan a' gluasad
An abhainn an tuil
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
Na cuibhlichean, 's cabhaig
A’ tionndaidh gun sgur
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
Cus ag adhradh beairtas
Air altair an tshaoghail
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
Cach gun dochas gun dachaidh
Air sraidean gun ghaol
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
Leis gach dath s'gach creideamh
Gach cainnt as gach cearn
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh
Gach ceist is gach freagairt
sios an abhainn gu cuan
Fada bho abhainn an t-sluaigh ( x6 )
The skies above London
Are neither clear nor dark
The need to be far from the crowded river
Neither the great candle of daylight
Nor the stars of the night can be seen
The need to be far from the crowded river
In this city that never sleeps
there is stillness, no quiet
The need to be far from the crowded river
Footsteps keep moving
The river in full flood
The need to be far from the crowded river
The relentless wheels
Keep turning without pause
The need to be far from the crowded river
Many worshipping wealth
At the world's altar
The need to be far from the crowded river
Others without hope or home
On streets that hold no love
The need to be far from the crowded river
Races creeds and tongues
From all corners of the globe
The need to be far from the crowded river
All questions and answer
Rushing down the river to the ocean
The need to be far from the crowded river ( x6)
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3.17.16. Going Home
In the distant day was dawning
Comes to me the early morning
Something tells me that I’m going home
The brand new sun shines bright
From the darkness fields of light
Something tells me that I’m going home
Going home
Where the summers coming in
And the moonlight on the river
Shows me where I’ve been
Soft the rain gently falling
Lightly ‘cross the city morning
I get the feeling that I’m going home
Across the moorland, past the mountains
O’er the rivers beside the new stream
Something tells me that I’m going home
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
As the trains rolling nearer
Ah, the feeling just to be there,
Something tells me that I’m going home
Now the skylines reach my eyes
The ridge stands out in highland skies
I just can’t believe I’m going home
Going home
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3.17.17. Loch Lomond
By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love spent many days o
On the banks of Loch Lomond
To sad we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep sides of Ben Lomond
Where the broken heart it knows no second spring
Resigned we must be when we’re parting
You'll take the high road and
I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
Ho, ho mo leannan
Ho, ho mo leannan bhoidheach
You'll take the high road and
I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
You'll take the high road and
I'll take the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
Where me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond