...That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me
And now I'm going home.
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| Edinburgh Castle, from my trip home last November |
It's not often I mention personal stuff on these pages but it's no secret that later today I'll be flying home to Scotland for a week for the wedding of my sister (and guest blogger). As ever the ol' heartstrings will be tugged by the various sights and sounds of home, as well as the opportunity to catch up with friends and family.
This sentiment is aptly summed up in Dougie McLean's song "Caledonia" which I've quoted above. Here's a video which sets the song to various pictures of Scotland, some of which are stunning:
...and here's where I had my first introduction to the song - Frankie Miller's version on the soundtrack of the Tennent's advert from c.1990:
Andrew
7 comments:
Absolutely magical. The Scottish landscape is so uniquely distinctive; rugged, weather-beaten but proudly defiant, and with that attractive undercurrent of primitive paganism when Nature was deservedly worshipped.
And the people? Well for me they have the cutest and the sexiest accent in the entire world, bar none! (If I get started on tartans and kilts I'll never stop!)
Slightly squicked by the implication that one of the things that makes you want to leave London is black people asking for directions in the lager ad....
:/
The song is great, though.
Had to re-watch it for the reference...
I see what your saying but surely it's just clumsy shorthand for tourist?
Oh yeah, probably, which is why I said "slightly squicked" and not "really angry".
Although one could argue that 1, Edinburgh is full of tourists too and 2, it's a bit additionally damning that all his mates he wants to get back to are all white and male too.
Good point, Edinburgh is indeed full of tourists.
It is also (still) a pretty white city though, more than, say, Bristol where I live now - and would have been even more so 20 years ago when advert was made!
Tourists? In Edinburgh?? Surely not?
No Jenni I've never had anyone ask what time the one o'clock gun goes off at. Or heard anyone talk about the convenience of the Castle to the nearest train station. Never! NEVER!!! I tell you.
Nor have I ever had an American tell me they love my 'English' accent in Edinburgh. My accent may be many things but....
Jennie, you are misreading the ad (perhaps mischievously). It isn't the person asking directions that makes him want to leave, it is that the fact everyone is ignoring the newcomer that is typical of the uncaring soullessness of the place. As a non native of London himself, he identifies with that and it makes him want to get out and go back to where his friends are.
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