Granny's Heilan Hame
M. MacFarlane


Where the heather bells are blooming just outside Granny's door,
Where as laddies there we played in the days of long ago.	
Neath the shadow of Ben Bhragie and Golspie's loudly stane,
How I wished that I could see my Granny's Hieland hame.

Away in the Hielands
There stands a wee hoose,
And it stands on the breast of the brae.
Where we played as laddies
Sae long long ago,
And it seems it was just yesterday.

Where the heather bells are blooming just outside Granny's door,
Where as laddies there we played in the days of long ago.	
Neath the shadow of Ben Bhragie and Golspie's loudly stane,
How I wished that I could see my Granny's Hieland hame.

I can still see old Granny,
A smile on her face,
As sweet as the heather dew,
When she kissed me good-bye
Wi' a tear in her eye,
And said, 'Laddie may God bless you'.

Where the heather bells are blooming just outside Granny's door,
Where as laddies there we played in the days of long ago.	
Neath the shadow of Ben Bhragie and Golspie's loudly stane,
How I wished that I could see my Granny's Hieland hame.

The 'Hieland hame' in the song is situated near Golspie in Sutherlandshire. This was one of many areas to suffer from the Highland Clearances in the 19th century. It is no surprising therefore that the evicted tenantry, exiled to Canada and elsewhere, should have constantly recalled with bitter longing the birthright they had been denied. The thatched cottage was the hub of the Scottish crofter's life. Still to be seen scattered about, the thatched cottage today is protected by law and can't be replaced by a modern roof.

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