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Highland Boat Song waltz

Also known as Arran Boat Song, The Arran Boat Song, Galley Of Lorne, The Galley Of Lorne, Highland Boat Song, The Highland Boat Song, Valse Gaélique.

There are 8 recordings of this tune.

Highland Boat Song has been added to 3 tune sets.

Highland Boat Song has been added to 44 tunebooks.

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Three settings

1
X: 1
T: Highland Boat Song
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Amin
E2|A3 BA2|c4 d2|e4 de|a3g3|e3 dc2|B2A2G2|E4:|
e2|ga3e2|e3 de2|ga3g2|e6|a3ba2|e3 de2|a3ba2|e3dcB|
A3BA2|c4d2|e3 d2e|a4 g2|e3dc2|B3 c2B|A3G3|A6||
2
X: 2
T: Highland Boat Song
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Amin
A3 E A2|c3 B c2|e3 c e2|a4 g2|e3 d c2|B3 c d2|e3 d c2|B3 A G2|
A3 E A2|c3 B c2|e3 c e2|a4 g2|e3 d c2|B3 A G2|A3 B A2|1 A4 E2:|2 A6||
|:g3 a g2|e3 d e2|g3 a g2|e3 d e2|a3 b a>g|e4 a2|a3 b a>g|d6|
A3 E A2|c3 B c2|e3 c e2|a4 a>g|e4 f>d|B3 G c>B|A6|A6:|
3
X: 3
T: Highland Boat Song
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Amin
E2|A3 E A2|c3 B c2|e3 c e2|a4 g2|e3 d c2|B3 c d2|e3 d c2|B2 BA G2|
A3 E A2|c3 B c2|e3 c e2|a4 g2|e3 d c2|B3 A G2|A3 B A2|A4:|
z2|g3 a g2|e3 d e2|g3 a g2|e3 d e2|a3 b a2|e3 de2|a3 bag|e d3 B2|
A3 E A2|c3 B c2|e3 c e2|a4 g2|e3 d c2|B3 A G2|A3 B A2|A4:|

Six comments

This is a lovely tune and I have played this in a set ,after My Own Home, for years.

Galley Of Lorne

I transcribed this air from the recording by the Tannahill Weavers on their first album “Are Ye Sleeping Maggie”. Surprised to see it wasn’t posted here as it’s a beautiful tune, so I thought it would be good opportunity to work out how to post a tune on here. Hope it has turned out ok…

The Galley of Lorne

This is not “The Arran Boat Song” but a tune called “The Galley of Lorne”, here from the Tannahill Weavers’ first album Are You Sleeping Maggie (1976).

The Galley of Lorne is an inn dating from possibly the 16th century in Ardfern, Argyll, which in days past catered for drovers on their way to the cattle markets. The actual boat - the “Galley of Lorne” was a symbol of Somerled, Lord of Lorne, King of the Western Isles, who reclaimed the area from the vikings.

Re: Galley Of Lorne

This tune has had a fair representation in France since the late 1970’s where it is known as “Valse gaélique” and is still dances in “Bal Folk” environments. I believe Alan Stivell made it popular under that rather vague but evocative name… (to be confirmed)

Re: Galley Of Lorne

*danced

Re: Galley Of Lorne

Yep. Stivell’s LP Renaissance de la Harpe Celtique, issued in France in 1971, has it listed as
Gaelic Waltz (valse traditionnelle écossaise)
without further detail.