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
Rolling Home
Dougie MacLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You didn't expect him but you thought he might
But you won't lose any sleeping
'Cause you know that everything's all right
He'll come rolling home, rolling home
He'll come rolling home to you
It's head on the pillow and just close your eyes
And you won't lose any dreaming
'Cause you know and it comes as no surprise
He'll come rolling home, rolling home
He'll come rolling home to you
There you're standing at the curtain
You'll never know that you are certain
You're not alone, you're not alone
Maybe someday when you're both old
And all the barroom stories have been told
You'll find a little piece of rainbow
And maybe just a little piece of gold
He'll come rolling home, rolling home
He'll come rolling home to you
The song "Rolling Home" by Dougie MacLean depicts the story of a woman who is waiting for her lover to return home. The lyrics paint the picture of a woman who is anticipating the arrival of her lover, but at the same time she is confident that everything will be alright. She spends a lonely night waiting, but she knows that she won't need any lullabies to fall asleep as she is assured of her lover's return. The chorus gives an optimistic outlook that the lover will come home rolling to her.
The lyrics also highlight the element of uncertainty about the future. The woman is standing at the curtain, wondering when her lover will return. She is unsure about what lies ahead, but she is certain of her love and commitment towards her partner. The last verse talks about the future possibilities that await them. The reference to finding a little piece of rainbow and gold suggests that the couple may find happiness and success in their journey together.
Overall, the song uses beautiful metaphors and imagery to tell a story of love, commitment, and hope. Dougie MacLean's soulful rendition further adds depth to the lyrics and makes it a memorable composition.
Line by Line Meaning
Another lonely, lonely night
You're spending another night alone and feeling lonely.
You didn't expect him but you thought he might
You didn't anticipate his return but had a feeling he might come back.
But you won't lose any sleeping
You won't lose any sleep because you're not worried about him being away.
'Cause you know that everything's all right
You're not worried because you know everything is alright.
He'll come rolling home, rolling home
You know he'll come back home to you.
You won't be needing any lullabies
You won't need any soothing music to put you to sleep.
It's head on the pillow and just close your eyes
You can simply lay your head on the pillow and close your eyes.
And you won't lose any dreaming
You won't lose any dreams because you're not worried about him being away.
'Cause you know and it comes as no surprise
You're not surprised because you always knew he would return.
There you're standing at the curtain
You're standing at the curtain, waiting for him to come home.
You'll never know that you are certain
You'll never know for sure when he'll come, but you know he will eventually.
You're not alone, you're not alone
You may be lonely, but you're not actually alone.
Maybe someday when you're both old
In the future, when you're both old, something good may happen.
And all the barroom stories have been told
When you're old and have shared all your stories, something good may happen.
You'll find a little piece of rainbow
You may find a moment of happiness or beauty in your old age.
And maybe just a little piece of gold
You may also find something valuable, like a piece of gold.
He'll come rolling home, rolling home
No matter what happens, you know he'll come back home to you.
Contributed by Eli N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.