John Galt (1779-1839)

From the lone shieling of the misty island

Mountains divide us, and the waste of seas -

Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland,

And we in dreams behold the Hebrides

Fair those broad meads, these hoary woods are grand;

But we are exiles from our fathers' land.

John Galt (1779-1839)

shiel·ing - 1. A shepherd's hut.

2. A mountain pasture used in the summer.

[From Scots shiel, hut, from Middle English schele, possibly from Old English *scēla, probably of Scandinavian origin;see (s)keu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Meads

Anglo-Saxon meed, what is mowed or cut down. A Meadow. Analogous to Meadows,

Canadian Boat Song
Fair these broad meads - these hoary woods are grand;
But we are exiles from our fathers' land.
Listen to me, as when ye heard our father
Sing long ago the song of other shores -
Listen to me, and then in chorus gather
All your deep voices, as ye pull your oars.
From the lone shieling of the misty island
Mountains divide us, and waste of seas -
Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland,
And we in dreams behold the Hebrides.
We ne'er shall tread the fancy-haunted valley,
Where 'tween the dark hills creeps the small clear stream,
In arms around the patriarch banner rally,
Nor see the moon on royal tombstones gleam.
When the bold kindred, in the time long vanis'hd,
Conquer'd the soil and fortified the keep -
No seer foretold the children would be banish'd,
That a degenerate lord might boast his sheep.
Come foreign rage - let Discord burst in slaughter!
O then for clansmen true, and stern claymore
The hearts that would have given their blood like water,
Beat heavily beyond the Atlantic roar.
Meaning of unusual words:
sheiling=highland cottage
claymore=Highland broadsword