MacLean began his career playing with the Tannahill Weavers in 1976. In the early '80s, he was briefly part of Silly Wizard. His solo career started in 1981. His first release was in 1983 with the album "Craigie Dhu", although he had already recorded other albums, such as "Snaigow" and "Fiddle", which were not released till much later. Perhaps his best-known track is "Caledonia", used for a Scottish Tourist Board advert, and very evocative of Scotland. Also well-known is "The Gael", from his 1990 album The Search, which was adapted by Trevor Jones as the main theme to the 1992 film Last of the Mohicans. MacLean's lyrics are fervently pro-Scottish; a recurring theme is the Highland Clearances. He also campaigns for the Aborigines and the native Americans.
MacLean lives in Dunkeld in Perthshire. The popular music bar in The Taybank Hotel, which displays MacLean ephemera and is a popular venue for folk music enthusiasts.
In 2011, MacLean was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
More info: www.dougiemaclean.com
Cruising
Dougie MacLean Lyrics
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And I'll turn out mine
And whatever falls rolling
We'll use it to find
Our way to the country
And leave all this behind
We're cruising, cruising
Tear up your papers
And I'll tear up mine
We'll fade into the evening
When we look back it's sure
That they never can see us
'Cause they're too far behind
We're cruising, cruising
Racing and chasing and forgetting it all
When I was a boy I had nothing
When I was a boy I was trying all the time
So let's get this thing together
You choose me and I'll choose you
And we will fade into forever
Start something new
There's no need to be frightened
I'll be right beside you
We're cruising, cruising
Racing and chasing and forgetting it all
In Dougie MacLean's song "Cruising", the singer encourages someone to turn out their pockets and tear up their papers, leaving all their burdens and worries behind. They plan to use whatever falls out of their pockets to find their way to the country and start anew. The lyrics suggest a desire for escape and a longing for a simpler life away from the stress and responsibilities of modern society. The repeated use of the phrase "cruising, cruising" implies a sense of freedom and carelessness that comes with leaving one's troubles behind and racing ahead without looking back.
The second verse of the song references the singer's childhood and their ongoing struggles at the time, which add context to their current desire for escape. By encouraging someone to choose them and start something new together, the singer suggests that they are not alone in their longing for something different. The final line, "I'll be right beside you," emphasizes the importance of companionship and support in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn out your pockets
Empty your pockets of any possessions
And I'll turn out mine
I will do the same
And whatever falls rolling
All the items that literally roll out of our pockets
We'll use it to find
We'll use these things as a means of getting what we need to get by
Our way to the country
We'll travel to the countryside
And leave all this behind
Abandon everything we're trying to escape from and start afresh in the countryside
We're cruising, cruising
We're navigating life at a leisurely pace
Racing and chasing and forgetting it all
No longer caught up in the fast-paced urban life that we were once engrossed in.
Tear up your papers
Get rid of all the documents you own
And I'll tear up mine
I'll destroy my records too
We'll fade into the evening
We'll blend into the background as if we don't exist
When we look back it's sure
When we look back, it's certain that nobody will be able to recognize us.
That they never can see us
We will have blended into the shadows so well that they'll never be able to recognize us
'Cause they're too far behind
They'll be too far away to notice us
When I was a boy I had nothing
The singer is reminiscing about a time when he had nothing
When I was a boy I was trying all the time
He spent all his time trying to make something of himself
So let's get this thing together
Let's work together to achieve our goals
You choose me and I'll choose you
We'll be each other's support system
And we will fade into forever
We will slowly disappear like we never existed before
Start something new
Start a new phase of life
There's no need to be frightened
There's nothing to be afraid of
I'll be right beside you
I'll always be there for you and have your back
Contributed by Elijah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.