Bringing in the new year with Scotland’s Story from Leith in 2023.
Described by heartofscotlandancestry – In this song The Proclaimers outline how people from different parts of the world have come to our shores to help shape Scotland’s Story. Often Scotland’s history is about outward movement of people, such as the Highland Clearances. This song reflects immigration – people coming in and contributing to the country.
Scotland’s Story” is a reflection of what Scotland has been for centuries, what it is at present and what, we can but hope, it will be in the future. Immigration and emigration, words that are viewed so negatively today, is nothing new. Movement of people has been going on for centuries. It has helped to shape and define Scotland and the wider UK and world.
Michael McGrory from west Donegal
You came to Glasgow with nothing at all
You fought the landlord then the Africa Korps
When you came to Glasgow with nothing at all
Abraham Caplan from Vilnius you came
You were heading for New York but Leith’s where you’ve stayed
You built a great business which benefits all
Since you came to this land with nothing at all
In Scotland’s story I read that they came
The Gael and the Pict, the Angle and Dane
But so did the Irishman, Jew and Ukraine
They’re all Scotland’s Story and they’re all worth the same
Joseph D’Angelo dreams of the days
When Italian kids in the Grassmarket played
We burned out his shop when the boys went to war
But auld Joe’s a big man and he forgave all
In Scotland’s story I’m told that they came
The Gael and the Pict, the Angle and Dane
But where’s all the Chinese and Indian names?
They’re in my lands story and they’re all worth the same
Christina McKay, I learned of your name
How you travelled south from Delny one day
You raised a whole family in one room they say
And the X on the line stands in place of your name
So in the old story I’ll bet that I came
From Gael and Pict and Angle and Dane
And a poor migrant girl who could not write her name
It’s a common old story but it’s mine just the same
All through the story the immigrants came
The Gael and the Pict, the Angle and Dane
From Pakistan, England and from the Ukraine
We’re all Scotland’s story and we’re all worth the same
Your Scotland’s story is worth just the same