The Road to Dundee
Encyclopedia
"The Road to Dundee", or "The Road and the Miles to Dundee" (Roud 2300) is a traditional Scottish folk ballad.
. He replies that it is difficult to describe, but he will accompany her along the road. He takes a liking to her and exchanges a token with her. They never meet again, but he will always remember her. The Irish version has Carnlough
Bay instead of Dundee, and there is no exchange of tokens.
Observer" 1908. In 1930 the words and tune were given in John Ord's "Bothy Ballads". The tune there is in the minor key, and is not used today. The tune that is now usually fitted to the words is given in Colm O'Lochlainn
's "Irish Street Ballads" (1939). This might explain why the song is claimed both by the Scots and the Irish. The Irish version of the words is "Carnlough Bay", which is in County Antrim. Edith Fowke
recovered a version in Ontario in 1957. Some sources claim that it was written by Alex MacKay, from Antrim in about 1900, but without printed evidence it is hard to establish this claim. Bob Dylan
used the tune for the song "Walls of Red Wing
" on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991.
"Sweet Carnlough Bay" or "Carron Lough Bay" or "Carnloch Bay":
Lyrics with musical score
Lyrics for "Sweet Carnloch Bay"
Synopsis
On a cold windy night a woman asks a man the way to DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
. He replies that it is difficult to describe, but he will accompany her along the road. He takes a liking to her and exchanges a token with her. They never meet again, but he will always remember her. The Irish version has Carnlough
Carnlough
Carnlough is a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It has a picturesque harbour on the shores of Carnlough Bay. Carnlough is situated on the Coast Road beside the North Channel and at the foot of Glencloy, the second of the nine Glens of Antrim...
Bay instead of Dundee, and there is no exchange of tokens.
Origins
The earliest known printing of the words was in the "BuchanBuchan
Buchan is one of the six committee areas and administrative areas of Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland. These areas were created by the council in 1996, when the Aberdeenshire unitary council area was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994...
Observer" 1908. In 1930 the words and tune were given in John Ord's "Bothy Ballads". The tune there is in the minor key, and is not used today. The tune that is now usually fitted to the words is given in Colm O'Lochlainn
Colm O'Lochlainn
Colm Ó Lochlainn was a printer, typographer, collector of Irish ballads and traditional Irish Uilleann piper. He was notably the author of Irish Street Ballads published in 1939 and More Irish Street Ballads in 1965.-Life:...
's "Irish Street Ballads" (1939). This might explain why the song is claimed both by the Scots and the Irish. The Irish version of the words is "Carnlough Bay", which is in County Antrim. Edith Fowke
Edith Fowke
Edith Fowke, was a Canadian folklorist. Born on April 30, 1913, in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, she was educated at the University of Saskatchewan. She hosted the CBC Radio program Folk Song Time from 1950 to 1963...
recovered a version in Ontario in 1957. Some sources claim that it was written by Alex MacKay, from Antrim in about 1900, but without printed evidence it is hard to establish this claim. Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
used the tune for the song "Walls of Red Wing
Walls of Red Wing
Walls of Red Wing is a folk and protest song, written by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Originally recorded for Dylan's second album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, it was never used, and eventually attempted for his next work, The Times They Are a-Changin, but, again, this version was never...
" on The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991.
Recorded versions
"The Road to Dundee":- Calum Kennedy issued as a singleSingle (music)In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(1956) - Robert Wilson on At the Royal Albert Hall (1958)
- Ewan MacCollEwan MacCollEwan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
and Peggy Seeger on Bothy Ballads of Scotland (1961) - Andy StewartAndy Stewart (musician)Andrew "Andy" Stewart MBE was a Scottish singer and entertainer.-Career:The use of tartan patriotism and stereotypical Scottish humour goes back to Sir Harry Lauder and music hall songs. In the 1960s this strand was continued by the entertainer Andy Stewart.He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in...
issued as a B-side of a single (1961) - Ian Campbell on The Singing Campbells (1965)
- The CorriesThe CorriesThe Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. Although the group was a trio in the early days, it was as the partnership of Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne that it is best known.-Early years:...
on Scottish Love Songs (1969) - Bully Wee Band on "Bully Wee" (1975)
- Fred JordanFred Jordan (singer)Fred Jordan was a farm worker from Ludlow, Shropshire, and is noted as one of the great musically untutored traditional English singers. He was first recorded in the 1940s by folk music researcher Alan Lomax and, over subsequent decades endeared himself to the English folk-song revival movement...
on In Course of Time (1991) - Jim DiamondJim Diamond (Scottish musician)James "Jim" Diamond is a Scottish singer-songwriter. Diamond is best known for his three Top 5 hits. The first was "I Won't Let You Down" , as the lead singer in the trio Ph.D., with Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips. His solo performance, "I Should Have Known Better", was a United Kingdom number one...
on Sugarolly DaysSugarolly DaysSugarolly Days is a 1994 album by Jim Diamond. It is a collection of Scottish folk songs. Gallagher & Lyle appear on several tracks.-Track listing:#Sugarolly Mountains 5.59#The Road to Dundee 4.10#One Day Without Fear 4.45#Ae Fond Kiss 3.25...
(1994) - Mick West on Right Side of The People (1997)
- Matthew Gurnsey on Kilted Concertina (2003)
- Elizabeth MarvellyElizabeth MarvellyElizabeth Lillian Marvelly , is a soprano from Rotorua, New Zealand. Marvelly was a scholarship student at King's College, Auckland in 2007.-Debut Album:...
on Elizabeth Marvelly (2007)
"Sweet Carnlough Bay" or "Carron Lough Bay" or "Carnloch Bay":
- Finbar and Eddie Furey on The Lonesome Boatman (1969)
- Wolfhound on Best of the Wolfhound (1974)
- Battlefield BandBattlefield BandBattlefield Band is a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, there are no founder members in the band....
on On the Rise (1986) - Wolfe TonesWolfe TonesThe Wolfe Tones are an Irish rebel music band who incorporate elements of Irish traditional music in their songs. They are named after the Irish rebel and patriot Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, with the double entendre that a wolf tone is a spurious sound...
on Rifles of the I.R.A. (1991) - Julee Glaub on Fields Faraway (2002)
- Martha Clancy on The Towns I Love so Well (2004) (harp)
- Roy BaileyRoy BaileyRoy Bailey may refer to:*Roy Bailey , Canadian Progressive Conservative politician from Saskatchewan*Roy Bailey , British socialist folk singer...
on Below the Radar (2009)
Lyrics
Lyrics with musical score
Lyrics for "Sweet Carnloch Bay"