The Road to the Isles

"The Road to the Isles" is a famous tune composed by Pipe Major John McLellan DCM which was originally called ‘The Bens of Jura’, though it previously had other titles. It is part of the Kennedy-Fraser collection and it appeared in a book entitled 'Songs of the Hebrides' published in 1917, with the eponymous title by the Celtic poet Kenneth Macleod. The poem is headed by the statement 'Written for the lads in France during the Great War'. The impression is given by the notes appended to the book that the author was Kenneth Macleod himself. Marjory Kennedy-Fraser toured the Western Isles of Scotland in the summer of 1917 and collected a group of local tunes. The tune associated with the Road to the Isles was an air played by Malcolm Johnson of Barra on a chanter and composed by Pipe Major John McLellan of Dunoon (originally titled ‘The Bens of Jura’ and "The Burning Sands of Egypt"). Kenneth Macleod then wrote the words for a voice and harp (or piano) arrangement of this air by Patuffa Kennedy-Fraser.

The tune was written as a march for the British Army. It is said to have been played by Bill Millin, piper to Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, during the first day of the Normandy Landings on D-Day during World War II, during a daring Commando attack during Operation Roast in the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, and also at the start of construction on Toronto's first subway line, under Yonge Street, in 1949.

The lyrics mention first the hills of the Isle of Skye (whose memory is calling the traveller west); then the successive locations he will pass on the way across the Western Highlands and Inner and Outer Hebrides. The locations mentioned are (in this order): the Cuillin Hills (on the Isle of Skye), Tummel and Loch Rannoch (both in Perthshire), Lochaber (a district in the western Scottish Highlands), Shiel (a reference to Loch Shiel west of Fort William), Ailort (near the Sound of Arisaig), Morar (near Loch Morar), the Skerries (rocky islets – in this case, just off Skye), and the Lews (a former name of the Isle of Lewis).

A cromach or cromack is a shepherd's crook or stick. "Tangle", or sea tangle, is oarweed or similar seaweed.

Lyrics
A far croonin' is pullin' me away As take I wi' my cromach to the road. The far Cuillins are puttin' love on me As step I wi' the sunlight for my load.

Chorus Sure by Tummel and Loch Rannoch and Lochaber I will go By heather tracks wi' heaven in their wiles. If it's thinkin' in your inner heart the braggart's in my step You've never smelled the tangle o' the Isles. Oh the far Cuillins are puttin' love on me As step I wi' my cromach to the Isles.

It's by Shiel water the track is to the west By Ailort and by Morar to the sea The cool cresses I am thinkin' of for pluck And bracken for a wink on Mother´s knee.

The blue islands are pullin' me away Their laughter puts the leap upon the lame The blue islands from the Skerries to the Lews Wi' heather honey taste upon each name.

Influence
A number of parodies have been based upon the tune to this song. Notable examples include "Leo McGuire's Song" by Billy Connolly and "Scottish Holiday" by The Corries.

The tune was used by Ewan MacColl for his rambling song "Mass Trespass 1932", a forerunner of his song "The Manchester Rambler".

The Wiggles used this tune as "Do the Highland Fling" on their "Dance, Dance!" CD and DVD and "Nursery Rhymes" YouTube video and CD.