Song Lyrics: Dark Island

I haven't done one of these in a while, but I recently heard this traditional Scottish song again and fell in love with it. I remember the first time I heard it: an episode of Stargate Atlantis, during the funeral scene in "Sunday". This is the song the piper played on the bagpipes. I couldn't remember the name of the song, although it was familiar. So I looked up the lyrics.

Like many Celtic songs, there are many variations of the lyrics. Here is one variation by Stewart Ross (Inverness, Scotland). There's another one by David Silver, here. The tune itself was originally by Ian McLaughlan. It was written for the 1970's BBC series "The Dark Island"

In the years, long ago
When I first left my home,
I was young and I wanted
the whole world to roam.
But now I am older
and wiser, you see,
for that lovely Dark Island
is calling to me.

O, I've wandered away
from the land of my birth
and been roaming around
to the ends of the earth.
Still my heart is at home
in that land far away,
That lovely Dark Island
where memories stray.

One day, I'll return
to that far distant shore,
and from that dear Island
I'll wander no more.
'Till the day that I die
I will no longer roam,
for that lovely Dark Island
will be my last home.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010