In 1962, Roy Williamson teamed up with Bill Smith and Ron Cockburn to form the "Corrie Folk Trio". Their first performance was in the Waverley Bar in St Mary's Street, Edinburgh. After a few weeks Cockburn left. They had already accepted an engagement at the Edinburgh Festival so Williamson suggested that Ronnie Browne should be brought in to make up numbers. They also added female Irish singer Paddie Bell to become the "Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell".
In 1966, Paddie Bell and Bill Smith left the group. Under the new name, The Corries, Williamson, a talented multi-instrumentalist, and Browne, the singer, performed at the Jubilee Arms Hotel in Cortachy, Angus. The early 1970s were the Corries' finest hour.
The Corries became legendary for the amount of instruments that were taken onstage during concerts; between the two members, instruments such as guitars, banjoes, mandolins, bodhráns, combolins, harmonicas and tin-whistles were used.
During the Corries' 1989 tour, Roy Williamson's health went into decline and he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. He spent his last years living in Forres, close to where he spent his school years. He died on 12 August 1990.
Ronnie Browne continued recording and moved into acting, as well as expanding his career as a noted painter, including commissions for the 1990 Scottish Rugby team's Grand Slam victory, but has now retired from performing.
In December 2007, The Corries were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame at the Scottish Trad Music Awards in Fort William, promoted by concertina virtuoso Simon Thoumire's Hands Up for Trad organisation.
I Will Go
The Corries Lyrics
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When the fighting is over
To the land of McLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
To the land of McLeod
That I left to be a soldier.
When the King's son came along
He called us all together
Saying, brave heilan men
Will you fight for my father.
I will go, I will go
I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
To the land of McLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go
I've a buckle on my belt
A sword in my scabbard
A red coat on my back
And a shilling in my pocket
I will go I will go
I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
To the land of McLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go
When they put us all on board
The lassies were singing
But the tears came to their eyes
When the bells started ringing
I will go, I will go
When we landed on the shore
And saw the foreign heather
We knew that some would fall
And would stay there forever
I will go, I will go
I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
To the land of McLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go
Slowly:
When we came back to the glen
The winter was turning
Our goods lay in the snow
And our houses were burning
I will go
I will go
I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
To the land of McLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go
When the fighting is over
To the land of McLeod
That I left to be a soldier
I will go, I will go
The Corries’s song "I Will Go" is an emotive ballad that tells the story of a soldier who longs to return to his homeland after the war is over. The song begins on a hopeful note, with the soldier declaring that he will go back to the land of McLeod that he left to be a soldier, as soon as the war is over. The next verse reveals that the King’s son came along and asked the highlanders to fight for his father. The soldier answers the call to arms with a resounding “I will go”. The chorus continues with the same refrain, each time emphasizing the soldier’s desire to return home to the land of McLeod.
The third verse of the song describes the soldier’s uniform and equipment - he has a buckle on his belt, a sword in his scabbard, a red coat on his back, and a shilling in his pocket. The next verse is tinged with sadness as the soldier recalls the departure from his homeland. The lassies are singing, but their tears betray the sadness they feel as the soldiers depart, leaving loved ones behind.
The final verse paints a sad picture of how war changes everything. The soldiers return to find that their homes have been destroyed, and their goods lie in the snow. Despite the heartbreak, the soldier remains steadfast in his resolve to return home. The chorus is repeated one last time, emphasizing that the soldier will go back to the land of McLeod – the place that he left to be a soldier.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Will Go" evoke a longing for home and convey the bittersweet emotions of those who have had to leave loved ones behind to serve their country.
Line by Line Meaning
I will go, I will go
Repeated for emphasis and to convey determination to go back to the land of McLeod.
When the fighting is over
Referring to the end of a battle and the opportunity to return home.
To the land of McLeod
Home to the singer, where he longs to return.
That I left to be a soldier.
The singer left his home to serve as a soldier.
When the King's son came along
The call to arms came from royalty.
He called us all together
The soldiers were gathered for the mission.
Saying, brave heilan men
The King's son referred to the soldiers as brave highlanders.
Will you fight for my father.
The King's son asked the soldiers to fight for his father's cause.
I've a buckle on my belt
Describing the singer's attire as a soldier.
A sword in my scabbard
Describing the singer's attire as a soldier.
A red coat on my back
Describing the singer's attire as a soldier.
And a shilling in my pocket
Describing the singer's personal possessions as a soldier.
When they put us all on board
Referring to being put on a ship to go fight.
The lassies were singing
Women were singing farewell songs to the soldiers.
But the tears came to their eyes
The farewell was emotional, with both joy and sadness.
When the bells started ringing
Bells were ringing to signal the departure of the soldiers.
When we landed on the shore
Referring to the moment of arrival at the foreign land.
And saw the foreign heather
Seeing the unfamiliar land and their vegetation.
We knew that some would fall
Awareness that casualties were likely in battle.
And would stay there forever
Acknowledging the possibility of dying in battle and remaining in the foreign land.
When we came back to the glen
Returning to the home village.
The winter was turning
Time had passed while the soldiers were away, and winter was approaching.
Our goods lay in the snow
Their belongings were left outside and became buried under snow.
And our houses were burning
Their homes were set on fire, implying it was done by enemies or simply out of neglect.
I will go
Reaffirming the determination to return to McLeod.
Contributed by Christopher K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gregory Smith
Line 13 Replace "heilan" with "Highland"