I got to visit this tree last week, and go inside it [it is enormous and forms a natural cathedral-like chamber under its branches.] My friend Carolyn A. Scott had sleuthed out its location using the song lyrics as a guide. According to the book "The Yew Tree: A Thousand Whispers" by Hal Hartzell, Jr. "...in Scotland during a major border dispute, several clans were gathered beneath a venerable yew to discuss a proposed treaty with the British. One of the clans sold out... [cont'd next post]
I am sure that the word “likes” at the end of the line “One kiss o' the axe and your freed frae th' likes” is incorrect and is maybe “wracks” or “racks”. I’ve listened to it many times and no Scots speaker I’m aware of would say “likes” in this fashion. Brilliant song and much appreciated!
Brian Mc'Niell is so good at singing, I know him personnally. I never knew he was a woeld famous musician until a few days ago. I did know he was in the Battlefield band though.
cont'd: The lives of three eagles, the life of a yew/ the life of a yew, the length of a ridge/ Seven ridges from Creaqtion to Doom." My family history on the shores of the Hudson River in New York includes the planting of four yew trees in 1850. Mere babies that they are, they still stand today in Croton Point Park and have also witnessed historic events. A song I wrote about them can be heard on Folk Alley Open Mic. It is called "Grandfather's Trees" and was inspired by this song. S Underhill
It's actually Flodden's far field. Culloden lies NORTH of english border. And it makes no sence chronologically - battle of Flodden was fought before John Knox.
cont'd from previous post: "..making their own false treaty. The Battle of Culloden ensued, with disastrous consequences for the Scots. SInce then the Yew Tree came to be known as the Traitor's Tree in Scotland." Not sure if this refers to the Pencaitland Yew or another one. From the same source, a Celtic folk-saying cited by Robert Graves: "The lives of three wattles [reed baskets], the life of a hound/ The lives of three steeds, the life of a man/ The lives of three men, the life of an eagle
Lyrics.......Kail and the Corn and the Kye......Kye being Scottish cattle.... ( not kine) and rhymes with Sky. Dick Gaughans song is an evocative history....and Leodhais is correct....it is Floddens far field. and Trace is also correct. Good quality sound....
I saw the tree that inspired this song------it was a deeply spiritual experience. Also saw the band a few years ago and met the songwriter, Brian McNeil.
Two lyrics corrections: O' the bishops and priests frae their backs = O' the bishops and priests wi' their backs One kiss o' the axe and you're freed to relax = One kiss o' the axe and you're freed frae th' likes Thanks for posting!
No, it's definitely 'frae their backs'. They want to remove the yoke of the bishops and not carry it anymore. Hence the reference to Presbyterian Calvin's preacher John Knox
You're most welcome, 2 others 'Mid the kail and the corn and the kye -> Kine not Kye means Cattle One kiss o' the axe and you're freed frae the racks ->Freed to relax not freed frae theracks.
I really love this song but it's not fair to attack john knox this way. The people of the reformation were not the same as the miserable kirk of later centuries.
Bawled my eyes out. Still tear up when it gets to the part about the bird. From my perspective, no matter how bad things get, no matter the terrible things one sees, or the despair thousands of years of oppression can bring someone, there is still hope to found in those memories.
![Battlefield Band - The Dear Green Place [best quality]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TUWNW0xUSaw/mqdefault.jpg)
I've loved this song since I first heard it 30 years ago.
Same!
I got to visit this tree last week, and go inside it [it is enormous and forms a natural cathedral-like chamber under its branches.] My friend Carolyn A. Scott had sleuthed out its location using the song lyrics as a guide. According to the book "The Yew Tree: A Thousand Whispers" by Hal Hartzell, Jr. "...in Scotland during a major border dispute, several clans were gathered beneath a venerable yew to discuss a proposed treaty with the British. One of the clans sold out... [cont'd next post]
I am sure that the word “likes” at the end of the line “One kiss o' the axe and your freed frae th' likes” is incorrect and is maybe “wracks” or “racks”. I’ve listened to it many times and no Scots speaker I’m aware of would say “likes” in this fashion. Brilliant song and much appreciated!
Brian Mc'Niell is so good at singing, I know him personnally. I never knew he was a woeld famous musician until a few days ago. I did know he was in the Battlefield band though.
cont'd: The lives of three eagles, the life of a yew/ the life of a yew, the length of a ridge/ Seven ridges from Creaqtion to Doom." My family history on the shores of the Hudson River in New York includes the planting of four yew trees in 1850. Mere babies that they are, they still stand today in Croton Point Park and have also witnessed historic events. A song I wrote about them can be heard on Folk Alley Open Mic. It is called "Grandfather's Trees" and was inspired by this song. S Underhill
If only trees could talk. We know they’ve witnessed so much, especially after 1000 yrs.🤓
Actually, if you listen again it is Flodden. You don't look south from the Lothians to see Culloden.
It's a really fine version of that song. I love it.
It's actually Flodden's far field. Culloden lies NORTH of english border. And it makes no sence chronologically - battle of Flodden was fought before John Knox.
Leodhais Fixed! Thanks for your comment :) Cheers from France.
cont'd from previous post: "..making their own false treaty. The Battle of Culloden ensued, with disastrous consequences for the Scots. SInce then the Yew Tree came to be known as the Traitor's Tree in Scotland." Not sure if this refers to the Pencaitland Yew or another one.
From the same source, a Celtic folk-saying cited by Robert Graves: "The lives of three wattles [reed baskets], the life of a hound/ The lives of three steeds, the life of a man/ The lives of three men, the life of an eagle
Lyrics.......Kail and the Corn and the Kye......Kye being Scottish cattle.... ( not kine) and rhymes with Sky. Dick Gaughans song is an evocative history....and Leodhais is correct....it is Floddens far field. and Trace is also correct. Good quality sound....
corrected! thanks !
I saw the tree that inspired this song------it was a deeply spiritual experience. Also saw the band a few years ago and met the songwriter, Brian McNeil.
A beautiful song and a wonderful band! Another beautiful song is "She's late but she's timely".
UK group Slainte has a version of this song merged with The Furrys Siege on a Nation makes a great unusual song
Last time i saw the band was in a pub called The Mitre at the top of my street in Newcastle on Tyne.. back in about 1982
Oh wow, until now the only performance of this song I'd heard by Battlefield band was the fuzzy one. This one is way clearer and better!
Waltz,Waltz !!
Two lyrics corrections:
O' the bishops and priests frae their backs = O' the bishops and priests wi' their backs
One kiss o' the axe and you're freed to relax = One kiss o' the axe and you're freed frae th' likes
Thanks for posting!
Corrected ! Thank you for your comment.
No, it's definitely 'frae their backs'. They want to remove the yoke of the bishops and not carry it anymore. Hence the reference to Presbyterian Calvin's preacher John Knox
❤️🤘☠️🤘❤️
You're most welcome, 2 others
'Mid the kail and the corn and the kye -> Kine not Kye means Cattle
One kiss o' the axe and you're freed frae the racks ->Freed to relax not freed frae theracks.
It's close. I don't know the exact measurement, but it's at a church outside the town.
Thank you, fixed!
is the tree really a mile frae Pentcaitland?
Yup. Look up Ormiston Yew.
Fab!
Not to be picky but's Culodden not Flodden
I really love this song but it's not fair to attack john knox this way. The people of the reformation were not the same as the miserable kirk of later centuries.
Great song, but Knox's Gspel and the Reformed faith is sweet and warm like mulled wine.
does anyone else cry when they hear this?
Bawled my eyes out. Still tear up when it gets to the part about the bird. From my perspective, no matter how bad things get, no matter the terrible things one sees, or the despair thousands of years of oppression can bring someone, there is still hope to found in those memories.
Tears, yes. Have loved this song since I first heard it
Me too. Actually been there today - very moving.
Yes, I can barely listen to it without tears.
No. I'm not crying. You're crying. There's something in my eye. STOP LOOKING AT ME!