After singing at weddings for a few years, he joined with several other choristers to form a group named The Mistletones in 1980. He also sang the national anthems at Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs games since 1988 and continues to do so. From 1984 through 1992 he worked as a circulation representative for the Toronto Sun, Conrad Black heard him singing at company parties. Black, along with other executives, financed McDermott's independent recording of "Danny Boy" in 1992, which was picked up and released in North America by EMI Music Canada. Following this unexpected success, McDermott decided to pursue a professional singing career.
John has annual concerts world wide, and can be seen from Toronto, to Boston, to New York, to Glasgow.
McDermott performed his first concert at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre on October 5, 1993 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he continued to tour the rest of Canada, performing as an opening act for The Chieftains. Throughout 1994 he went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, following the great success of Danny Boy, which had been ranked Number 1 on the charts there and achieved triple platinum in New Zealand. Next, in 1995 he went on a tour of the United Kingdom with The Seekers.
At this point in his career he was becoming recognized internationally, so he started to tour regularly as a solo act rather than an opening act. He also appeared at several special events including the D-Day ceremonies in France in 1995, and the US Democratic National Convention in 1996. He has also appeared on TV several times, both as a host of CBC Television concert specials in 1997, and in his own television special titled John McDermott: A Time to Remember which aired on PBS in 2002.
McDermott formed The Irish Tenors and after performing a large concert in Dublin, Ireland in 1998, they spent some time touring the US, appearing on TV, and releasing a gold record.
Since leaving The Irish Tenors, McDermott continues to tour extensively throughout the World, performing with his own group and with the great symphonies of the world. He continues to work to support the veteran community in the United States and in Canada. In 2000 McDermott dedicated McDermott House in Washington DC, a transitional home for homeless veterans. His latest release Journeys-Bringing Buddy Home was recorded to help support fundraising for Fisher House Boston and launch the Canadian initiative for an outreach centre for Canadian Veterans.
Scotland For Ever
John McDermott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her vines and her bowers and her soft sunny skies
Her sons drinking love from the eyes of her daughters
Where freedom expires amid softness and sighs
Scotland's blue mountains wild where hoary cliffs are piled
Towering in grandeur are dearer tae me
Land of the misty cloud land of the tempest loud
Enthroned on the peak of her own highland mountains
The spirit of Scotia reigns fearless and free
Her green tartan waving o'er blue rock and fountain
And proudly she sings looking over the sea
Here among my mountains wild I have serenely smiled
When armies and empires against me were hurled
Firm as my native rock I have withstood the shock
Of England, of Denmark, or Rome and the world
But see how proudly her war steeds are prancing
Deep groves of steel trodden down in their path
The eyes of my sons like their bright swords are
Glancing
Triumphantly riding through ruin and death
Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs
Deep eyed in gore is the green tartan's wave
Shivering are the ranks of steel dire is the horseman's wheel
Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave
Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs
Deep eyed in gore is the green tartan's wave
Shivering are the ranks of steel dire is the horseman's wheel
Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave
Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave
The first stanza of "Scotland the Brave" draws a comparison between the beauty of Italy and the ruggedness of Scotland. The singer acknowledges Italy's allure with its "gay gilded waters," "vines and her bowers," and "soft sunny skies," but remarks that Scotland's blue mountains and hoary cliffs are more beloved. The next line continues to highlight Scotland's superiority by describing its tempestuous weather and lauding its people as brave and proud, qualities that are not present in Italy.
The second stanza emphasizes the cultural and spiritual significance of Scotland. The singer asserts that the "spirit of Scotia reigns fearless and free" from atop its highland mountains. This imagery of the spirit of Scotland being enthroned on high ground symbolizes the importance of Scottish culture and history to the people of Scotland. The next line mentions the pride that Scots take in their traditional tartan, which is ubiquitous in the country. Finally, the stanza ends with Scotland's nationalistic fervor being displayed as it looks out towards the sea, triumphantly singing.
The third and final stanza is the most martial in tone. The singer imagines the "war steeds" of Scotland traversing through "ruin and death". The mention of the "deep groves of steel" and "bright swords" suggests that the Scots are victorious on the battlefield. The bold hearts of the soldiers and the plumes in their helmets wave pompously over their "bloody tombs." The last two lines reiterate the song's title and emphasise the bravery of Scotland.
Line by Line Meaning
Let Italy boast of her gay gilded waters
Italy may take pride in her beautifully shining waters
Her vines and her bowers and her soft sunny skies
Her vineyards, leafy bowers, and warm, clear skies
Her sons drinking love from the eyes of her daughters
Where men indulge in the beauty of women with their loving eyes
Where freedom expires amid softness and sighs
But where the freedom is hindered because of the peaceful atmosphere
Scotland's blue mountains wild where hoary cliffs are piled
Scotland's untamed, wild blue mountains where the frosty cliffs are stacked
Towering in grandeur are dearer tae me
Their grand size is more meaningful to me
Land of the misty cloud land of the tempest loud
The country where misty clouds and loud storms occur
Land of the brave and proud land of the free
The country where people have courage and dignity and have freedom
Enthroned on the peak of her own highland mountains
Located on top of her own highland mountains like royalty ruling over them
The spirit of Scotia reigns fearless and free
The spirit of Scotland rules with no fear and at liberty
Her green tartan waving o'er blue rock and fountain
Her green tartan waving over the blue rock and fountain
And proudly she sings looking over the sea
And she proudly sings while gazing at the sea
Here among my mountains wild I have serenely smiled
In this region surrounded by my wild mountains, I have smiled with peace
When armies and empires against me were hurled
Even when armies and empires were thrown against me
Firm as my native rock I have withstood the shock
As solid as my native stones, I have endured the impact
Of England, of Denmark, or Rome and the world
From England, Denmark, Rome, and the entire world
But see how proudly her war steeds are prancing
Behold, her warhorses are proudly trotting
Deep groves of steel trodden down in their path
Deep rows of steel weapons are trampled in their track
The eyes of my sons like their bright swords are Glancing
The eyes of my brave men are like their sharp swords, glinting
Triumphantly riding through ruin and death
Triumphantly riding through destruction and mortality
Bold hearts and nodding plumes wave o'er their bloody tombs
Brave hearts and swaying feathers wave over their bloody graves
Deep eyed in gore is the green tartan's wave
The green tartan waving is covered in blood
Shivering are the ranks of steel dire is the horseman's wheel
The steel ranks are trembling and the horseman's wheel is dangerous
Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave
Scotland has won on the battlefield because of their bravery
Victorious in battlefield Scotland the brave
Victorious in the battlefield, Scotland is the epitome of bravery
Contributed by Brooklyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-kr2xn9qx2f
I love my Italian heritage, who would not if they were I? From the southernmost 'property', Sicily on my paternal Grandfather,s side and Tuscany on my Paternal Grandmother's side from Pisa. I was beyond my teens as a byproduct of my parents divorce in the sixties before I found out I was half Scottish. I knew my mother was not Italian but my father forbade anything other than Italian and I never questioned it. My mother was a dutiful, if scared wife. When I found out I was half Scottish of the Wallace clan I was taken aback with a history hereto unknown to me. I love it, I revel in it. It brings out the poetic/romance side of me. I am 78 next and really do appreciate my entire heritage.
@dianaklien1560
I am watching in 2021 and praying that Scotts are finding “The Brave” in their hearts today.
@randyo.bowling1907
Me too! Rancy Oather Bowling, the 24th greats Grandson of Raibert de Brus!!! & 17 Greats Grandson of James, I of Scotland, Clan Campbell & Campbell blood descendant. Knights Templar (Masonic).
@ryanhutchison476
@@randyo.bowling1907 Being a Glaswegian i can firmly say, I have no idea what any of that means
@CalumOH
@@randyo.bowling1907 Is that right aye? I'm the popes brother and the queen's sister
@gordonshewan9892
Always....
@macbagpipethehaggis3213
As a Glaswegian that's something I widnae brag aboot. Pretty sure the Bruce wouldn't brag about it either.
@johngialanellajr8650
Years ago in 1970 I was at the Veterans Hospital for tests for 2 weeks and this Beautiful Blue Eyed Blond girl named Laura McDermott came every day and and we talked every day I could really have seen me with her forever, but never did. Scottish girls are so Pretty.
@ieuanbriers
That man can sing and those lassies can dance. You Scots know how to put on a show. All the best from your Welsh Cousins.
@marshaflorom730
So proud to be 43 percent Scottish!! Thank you so much!!