Song of the Exile is the Vanora song in the KING ARTHUR movie and it prevents from an old Scottish song titles Bidh clann Ulaidh (in English “The Clan of Ulster”)
Bidh clann Ulaidh (in English “The Clan of Ulster”) is a lullaby from the Hebrides, where the mother sleeps the baby (I imagine the baby is a female), telling her about the great wedding her family will organize when she arrives in the marriageable age. She mention the names of important Clans and also of the illustrious Irish relatives who will go to the wedding to celebrate the couple and honor the family .
Weddings between upper class families were famous events that people talked about and remembered for years, on which they wrote songs (here), in which the clan chiefs displayed their liberality and magnificence. Marriages allowed for alliances (though not always lasting) between clans and were contracts that involved the exchange of livestock, money and property, called tochers for the bride and dowry for the groom.
THE MELODY: Song of the Exile
The melody is something magical, there is a version that outclasses – in my opinion – all the others, that of the virtuoso (as well as Scottish) Tony McManus, the “Celtic fingerstyle guitar legend”
and now we add the song..
| English translation I My love, my darling child The Clan of Ulster(2) will be at your wedding My love, my darling child The Clan of Ulster will dance at your wedding Chorus: The king’s clans, the king’s clans The king’s clans will be at your wedding The king’s clans playing the pipes Wine will be drunk at your wedding II Clan MacAulay(3), a lively crowd Clan MacAulay will be at your wedding Clan MacAulay, a lively crowd Will dance at your wedding III Clan Donald(4), who are so special(5) Clan Donald will be at your wedding Clan Donald, who are so special Will dance at your wedding IV Clan MacKenzie(6) of the shining armor(7) Clan MacKenzie will be at your wedding Clan MacKenzie of the shining armor Will dance at your wedding | I Bidh clann(1) Ulaidh luaidh ‘s a lurain Bidh clann Ulaidh air do bhanais Bidh clann Ulaidh luaidh ‘s a lurain Dèanamh an danns air do bhanais Sèist: Bidh clann a’ rìgh, bidh clann a’ rìgh Bidh clann a’ rìgh air do bhanais Bidh clann a’ rìgh seinn air a’ phìob Òlar am fìon air do bhanais II Bidh Clann Amhlaidh nam feachd greannmhor Bidh Clann Amhlaidh air do bhanais Bidh Clann Amhlaidh nam feachd greannmhor Dèanamh an danns air do bhanais III Bidh Clann Dhòmhnaill tha cho neònach(5) Bidh Clann Dhòmhnaill air do bhanais Bidh Clann Dhòmhnaill tha cho neònach Dèanamh an danns air do bhanais IV Bidh Clann Choinnich nam feachd soilleir(7) Bidh Clann Choinnich air do bhanais Bidh Clann Choinnich nam feachd soilleir Dèanamh an danns air do bhanais |
NOTES
1) the word “clan” derives from the Scottish Gaelic “clann” = “child” to underline the strong bond of blood between the chief and the families (descendants). The clans are territorial extensions controlled by the chief who lives in an ancient castle or fortified house. Not all members of the clan are also descendants of blood, because they could also have “affiliated” to the clan in exchange for protection. At Hogmany or at the time of the election of the new chief all the respective heads of the family swore loyalty to the clan leader. The leader is a Laird, a clan leader and a legal representative of the community
2 ) in Ireland the Ard Ri, the king of kings comes from the North, from the Ulaidh, the land of the warriors and the Clan of the O’Neils always remained a prestigious clan even after the English conquest.
3) Clan MacAulay is a Scottish clan of Argyll, among the oldest in Scotland that boasted its descendants from the king of the Picts: they are located on the border between Lowland and Highland
4) the Clan Donald is one of the most numerous Scottish clans and divided into numerous subdivisions. The Lord of the Islands is traditionally a MacDonald (Hebrides)
5) also written “tha cha neonach” = “it’s no wonder”
6 )Clan MacKenzie is a Highlands clan whose coat of arms reproduces a mountain in flame and the motto says “Luceo non uro”
7) also translated as “bright clothing”
VANORA – WE WILL GO HOME (ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS) -KING ARTHUR (2004)
“The song of Exile” is sung by Vanora (wife of Bors) to the men of Arthur – of the people of the Sàrmati, (but in reality it is addressed to the child in his arms and therefore it is to him, but also to the warrior-husband, who sings a lullaby -anna) in the imminence of the departure for a “suicide” mission; men want to return home, they have the safe conduct that frees them from servitude in Rome, but choose to stay alongside their commander, the Roman-Briton Artorius (the plot here).
Caitlin Matthews writes“I am the arranger/translator of “Song of the Exile” which appeared in the film and wasn’t recorded on the CD. Disney won’t allow me to sing or record it as they now own the copyright“
These are the words sung in the film:
| I Land of bear and land of eagle Land that gave us birth and blessing Land that called us ever homewards We will go home across the mountains We will go home, we will go home… | II When the land is there before us We have gone home across the mountains We have gone home, we have gone home We have gone home singing our songs |
A whispered lullaby, sweet-sad together, short but with an intense emotional charge, not included in the soundtrack CD “King Artur.” As an author there are those who thought to credit (wrongly) Hans Zimmer who actually signed the soundtrack of the film and we have seen a lot of complaints from the fans for the exclusion of the song. Hans Zimmer (here) writes “Song of the Exile” is composed and performed by Caitlin Matthews” (see more)
Song of the Exile: ADDITIONAL STANZAS
| III Land of freedom land of heroes Land that gave us hope and memories Hear our singing hear our longing We will go home across the mountains | IV Land of sun and land of moonlight Land that gave us joy and sorrow Land that gave us love and laughter We will go home across the mountains |
So there’s a song (Bidh clann Ulaidh?) in Scottish Gaelic at the beginning, arranged / translated by Caitlin Matthews and an avalanche of super-charged versions have come out (and keep going out) on YouTube!
