A Scottish Soldier
Andy Stewart Lyrics
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Who wandered far away
And soldiered far away
There was none bolder
With good broad shoulder
He'd fought in many a fray
And fought and won
He'd told the story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
But now he's sighing
His heart is crying
To leave those green hills of Tyrol
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away
And soldiered far away
Sees leaves are falling
And death is calling
And he will fade away in that far land
He called his piper, his trusty piper
And bade him sound a lay a pibroch sad to play
Upon a hillside, a Scottish hillside
Not on those green hills of Tyrol
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Will wander far no more and soldier far no more
And on a hillside, a Scottish hillside
You'll see a piper play his soldier home
He's seen the glory, he's told his story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
The bugles cease now, he is at peace now
Far from those green hills of Tyrol
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
The song "A Scottish Soldier" by Andy Stewart tells the story of a Scottish soldier who is far away from his homeland. The soldier is brave and has fought in many battles and won, but he is saddened because he cannot be with his own people or in his own land. He longs for the familiar green hills of Scotland and feels that the foreign hills he sees cannot compare to his homeland. As he faces death, he calls upon his piper to play a pibroch, a sad tune, on a Scottish hillside, rather than on the green hills of Tyrol where he is stationed. The soldier is comforted in his final moments by the music of the pibroch, which reminds him of home, and he is laid to rest in a Scottish hillside.
This song is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers who are far away from home while serving their country. The lyrics are a tribute to the longing for home that soldiers often feel while they are fighting abroad. The song is also a reminder of the importance of music in providing comfort and solace to those who are far away from home.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a soldier, a Scottish soldier
The story revolves around a Scottish soldier.
Who wandered far away
The soldier traveled far and wide.
And soldiered far away
He fought in many battles far away from home.
There was none bolder
He was a brave soldier.
With good broad shoulder
He was strong and able-bodied.
He'd fought in many a fray
He had seen numerous combats.
And fought and won
He emerged victorious in many battles.
He'd seen the glory
He had experienced the honor and distinction of war.
He'd told the story
He shared his war stories with others.
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
He recounted the bravery and triumphs of war.
But now he's sighing
The soldier is now lamenting.
His heart is crying
He feels a deep sense of sorrow.
To leave those green hills of Tyrol
He is reluctant to depart from the pleasant surroundings of Tyrol.
Because those green hills are not highland hills
The hills of Tyrol are not the same as the highland hills of his homeland.
Or the island hills
The hills of Tyrol are also different from the island hills of his homeland.
They're not my land's hills
The hills of Tyrol don't belong to his homeland.
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
The hills of Tyrol may be beautiful and pleasant, but they are not the same as his homeland hills.
They are not the hills of home
Only the hills of his homeland are his true home.
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
The song continues to focus on the Scottish soldier.
Sees leaves are falling
He realizes that the autumn season has begun.
And death is calling
He knows that his end is near.
And he will fade away in that far land
He will pass away in the foreign land of Tyrol.
He called his piper, his trusty piper
The soldier reaches out to his piper, someone he trusts.
And bade him sound a lay a pibroch sad to play
He asks the piper to play a sorrowful pibroch tune.
Upon a hillside, a Scottish hillside
But he requests that it be played on a hillside in his homeland.
Not on those green hills of Tyrol
He doesn't want to perish in foreign lands nor be remembered there.
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
The song returns its focus to the hero of the story.
Will wander far no more and soldier far no more
The soldier will soldier no more and his days of wandering will come to an end.
And on a hillside, a Scottish hillside
The final scene is set in his home country, on the hills he cherishes.
You'll see a piper play his soldier home
The piper will lead the soldier home.
He's seen the glory, he's told his story
The soldier has experience of the honor, distinction, the bravery and victories glory of war.
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
He has many recounted heroic stories of war.
The bugles cease now, he is at peace now
Now this brave soldier has died without further wars, left in peace at last.
Far from those green hills of Tyrol
The Scottish soldier passed away in a distant land, far from his homeland.
Because those green hills are not highland hills
One last reminder that these foreign hills are not the hills of his homeland.
Or the island hills
Neither are they the island hills of his birthplace.
They're not my land's hills
Only the hills of his homeland are his true home.
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
The hills of Tyrol may be beautiful and pleasant, but they are not the same as his homeland hills.
They are not the hills of home
Only the hills of his homeland are his true home.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andy Stewart, Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juliantimothy8945
You are lucky to have known your Grandfather, both mine died before I was born. I love listening to the pipes
My mothers family were Clan Gunn and her father was from a military family and went to South Africa in 1899 like your Grandfather to fight in the 2nd Boer war. He was career military and remained in South Africa eventually commanding a battalion of Zulus against Lettow Von Vorbeck in WW1 and built a close relationship with the Zulus buying a farm on the west bank of the River Tugela just south of where the Buffalo River (of Rorkes Drift fame) joined the Tugela. According to my mother it was farmed by his ex soldiers and their dependents of men lost. He also raised a battalion of Zulus in WW2 to fight in Burma. I wish I had known him BUT, only know what my mother told me about him; A strict disciplinarian who loved the Zulu nation and regarded the Zulus he commanded in both World Wars as the best soldiers he ever commanded and fought with. My mother also loved and respected the Zulu nation and always spoke highly of the Zulus - She also spoke isiZulu and Xhosa in addition to English and Afrikaans.
My father was from a Welsh Clerical family and his father, my other Grandfather, was a Welsh Minister like all my fathers family were and did missionary work in Chile between graduating as a Doctor of Divinity and taking his first position as a Curate in the Diocese of St Asaph and then serving in the Trenches as a Padre, rising to Rural Dean of St Asaph before his death.
I wish I had met and known both my Grandfathers and learnt more about them their experiences and our family history as they led amazing lives. Following family tradition I named my son after my Welsh Grandfather and he continued the tradition naming his son after my father. I gave my son the Welsh family bible and he has it with him in Australia.
My mother loved the Andy Stewart show and whenever I hear the music or words of A Scottish Soldier I think of my mother and her father, especially the words "He wandered far away And soldiered far away ..... He's fought in many a fray And fought and won ......And now this soldier This Scottish soldier Will wander far no more And soldier far no more" and I think of all the Scottish and British soldiers who died overseas and never come home. Wherever I go in the world if there is a local Commonwealth Wargraves Cemetery I stop and say thank you to the men and women buried their and the names recorded on the "Wall of Remebrance" recording the names of men who served locally who have no known grave and who never saw their homes and families again.
@johnoconnor4623
The words:
A SCOTTISH SOLDIER
Andy Stewart
There was a soldier, a Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away and soldiered far away
There was none bolder with good broad shoulder
He fought many affray, and fought and won
He’d seen the glory, he’d told the story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
But now he’s sighing, his heart is crying
To leave those green hills of Tyrol
(Chorus)Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills, they’re not my land’s hills
And fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away and soldiered far away
Sees leaves are falling, and death is calling
And he will fade away in that far land
He called his piper, his trusty piper
And bade him sound a lay
A pibroch sad to play
Upon a hillside, a Scottish hillside
Not on those green hills of Tyrol
(Chorus)
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Will wander far no more and soldier far no more
And on a hillside, a Scottish hillside
You’ll see a piper play his soldier home
He’s seen the glory, he’s told the story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
The bugle’s ceased now, he is at peace now
Far from those green hills of Tyrol
@trevm02
There was a soldier, a Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away
And soldiered far away
There was none bolder
With good broad shoulder
He'd fought in many a fray
And fought and won
He'd seen the glory
He'd told the story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
But now he's sighing
His heart is crying
To leave those green hills of Tyrol
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away
And soldiered far away
Sees leaves are falling
And death is calling
And he will fade away in that far land
He called his piper, his trusty piper
And bade him sound a lay a pibroch sad to play
Upon a hillside, a Scottish hillside
Not on those green hills of Tyrol
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier
Will wander far no more and soldier far no more
And on a hillside, a Scottish hillside
You'll see a piper play his soldier home
He's seen the glory, he's told his story
Of battles glorious and deeds victorious
The bugles cease now, he is at peace now
Far from those green hills of Tyrol
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
Because those green hills are not highland hills
Or the island hills
They're not my land's hills
And, fair as these green foreign hills may be
They are not the hills of home
@annmacdonald9301
When I was a young girl Andy Stewart was Hogmanay and the epitome of Scotland. His Scottish Soldier was the most beautiful tribute to all our brave Scottish Soldiers who fought and died. My dad served in the Black Watch in Burma and when I listen to Andy Stewart it makes me cry with pride and pain!
@keithharvey7230
I'm English and I was brought up on this song.
@jakeaustin2379
Chills went up my spine my friend .........when reading your post ... _ My Middle Name is __ Graham__ ( of Menteith ) USA - ❤ 👍 - - ⭐ ⭐⭐ __ Black 🏴 Watch __ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ - 💜 - Pride and pain and honoring your warrior hero Scottish Soldier ..his legacy lives on ...
@alfredroyal3473
Hogmanay in Scotland is shite now. TV crap.
@malcolmstirling808
My wife's cousins still serve the Black Watch today
@sapien82
listening to andy stewart just reminds me of my grannie's hoos at hogmonay, gid memories she'd ay stick on his records
@barbaragree9389
My Dad, who was neither Scottish nor a soldier loved this song and we used it as part of his funeral 20 years ago. Australian born and bred. Thank you Andy Stewart and rest in peace Robert Green.
@HenriHattar
And RIP Richar Greene too!
@alexandramegson1922
My Grandfather was a Scottish Soldier who fought in the Boer War and was shot twice in the back. Not able to remove bullets. He was not helped much,and another was done to compensate him for the pain he had to endure. He always had a smile and chuckle for anyone, even if he didn't feel well
Robert Veitch Brodie was a wonderful man and a loving Grandfather.
@juliantimothy8945
You are lucky to have known your Grandfather, both mine died before I was born. I love listening to the pipes
My mothers family were Clan Gunn and her father was from a military family and went to South Africa in 1899 like your Grandfather to fight in the 2nd Boer war. He was career military and remained in South Africa eventually commanding a battalion of Zulus against Lettow Von Vorbeck in WW1 and built a close relationship with the Zulus buying a farm on the west bank of the River Tugela just south of where the Buffalo River (of Rorkes Drift fame) joined the Tugela. According to my mother it was farmed by his ex soldiers and their dependents of men lost. He also raised a battalion of Zulus in WW2 to fight in Burma. I wish I had known him BUT, only know what my mother told me about him; A strict disciplinarian who loved the Zulu nation and regarded the Zulus he commanded in both World Wars as the best soldiers he ever commanded and fought with. My mother also loved and respected the Zulu nation and always spoke highly of the Zulus - She also spoke isiZulu and Xhosa in addition to English and Afrikaans.
My father was from a Welsh Clerical family and his father, my other Grandfather, was a Welsh Minister like all my fathers family were and did missionary work in Chile between graduating as a Doctor of Divinity and taking his first position as a Curate in the Diocese of St Asaph and then serving in the Trenches as a Padre, rising to Rural Dean of St Asaph before his death.
I wish I had met and known both my Grandfathers and learnt more about them their experiences and our family history as they led amazing lives. Following family tradition I named my son after my Welsh Grandfather and he continued the tradition naming his son after my father. I gave my son the Welsh family bible and he has it with him in Australia.
My mother loved the Andy Stewart show and whenever I hear the music or words of A Scottish Soldier I think of my mother and her father, especially the words "He wandered far away And soldiered far away ..... He's fought in many a fray And fought and won ......And now this soldier This Scottish soldier Will wander far no more And soldier far no more" and I think of all the Scottish and British soldiers who died overseas and never come home. Wherever I go in the world if there is a local Commonwealth Wargraves Cemetery I stop and say thank you to the men and women buried their and the names recorded on the "Wall of Remebrance" recording the names of men who served locally who have no known grave and who never saw their homes and families again.