Although I could
understand the plight of economic migrants from eastern Europe
and
people fleeing the horrors of civil war in Africa, one thing puzzled me;
of all
the places to go to, why Scotland? At Christmas I found out. It’s
all Colin Baxter’s
fault! We were sending our usual batch of calendars
abroad and I thought, ‘That’s it!
All that these people see of Scotland
is Eilean Donan Castle, Buachaille Etive Mor,
and Princes Street
Gardens. No Cumbernauld Town Centre, no sunset over Govan’.
Anyway
hopefully this song challenges some stereotypes about immigrants,
Scotland
and what it is to be Scottish.
|
1
|
As I look out
over Glasgow as the plane comes in to land
I think on broad Atlantic breakers crashing on the sand
And as they roll back to the ocean I’m wondering what’s in store
Will I find a place of refuge and a place to call my home, to call
my home, a place to call my home
|
|
2 |
I suppose I chose to come here but I didn’t
have much choice
Here in desperation but I just
don’t have the voice
To tell you stories of
oppression and poverty and war
I’m a father of a family
looking for an open door, an open door, looking for an open door
|
|
3 |
Of Scotland I’ve heard plenty, but only from
afar
Where you’ll find a friendly
welcome no matter who you are
Where the sun sets on the
Coolins and the snow is on the Ben
And the eagle soars in freedom
and the red deer fill the glen, they fill the glen, the red deer fill
the glen
|
|
4 |
But will I find another Scotland as I try to
make my way,
Will the colour of my
children’s skin give them problems where they play
Or will we end up in a gehtto
where you can’t feel safe at night
And if you’re wearing the wrong
colours then you’ll end up in a fight, in a fight, you’ll end up in a
fight
|
|
5
|
But Columba came from Ireland and St. Andrew
Galilee
And if Wallace fought for
freedom then he’d surely fight for me
And if “a man’s a man for a’
that”, as Burns once did say
Then I’ll settle here in
Scotland and live in peace I pray, in peace I pray, and live in peace I
pray
|
|
6
|
As I look out
over Glasgow as the plane comes in to land
I think on broad Atlantic
breakers crashing on the sand
And as they roll back to the
ocean I’m wondering what’s in store
Will Ifind a place of refuge and a place to
call my home, call my home, a place to call my home etc. etc
As I look out over Glasgow what Scotland will
I find?
|
|