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Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

I know sing songs aren't the trad instrumental's forte, I was just wondering if Caledonia is considered a Traditional Irish song, as in would be it ok to compete with it in the fleadh?

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by Flute86

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

If you mean this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMpSg78s684

It was written (and performed in that clip) by Dougie McLean.

Caledonia is the old Latin name for Northern Britain, i.e. Scotland in the current parlance.

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by Jumper

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Dougie is from Perthshire, Scotland. So no, it's not an Irish song.

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by Jumper

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

ah yes thank you. dammit.

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by Flute86

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Try this, though, recorded by Muddy Waters, BB King, Louis Prima and lots more. Traditional, I think:

Hey, Im walking with my woman
She got great big feet
Long, lean and angry
She aint had nothing to eat
But shes my woman
And I love her just the same
Shes a fine looking woman
And Caldonia is her name

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by fidkid

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Does anyone know if "The wind that shakes the barely" is considered traditional?

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by Flute86

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

There's a different song also called Caledonia, sung by Emily Smith. Very Scottish as well.

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by kuec

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Ermm... I thought the name might have given the game away.

And no, Rule Britania isn't a Scottish song...

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by Ron P

Was'n't it written by Burns ?:-)

# Posted on April 30th 2008 by bazouki dave and the real tooty flutey

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Ho Ho Ho...... NO!!! :-)

# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Ron P

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

I like fidkid's suggestion. I will never forget hearing, back when I was a boy, old Woody Herman, with his band roaring along behind him, earning their name, "The Thundering Herd," as he belted it out, "Caldonia, Caldonia, what make yo big head so hard!!!!" If you performed that at a fleadh, I bet no one would forget you!

# Posted on May 1st 2008 by AlBrown

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

You should not sing it in a Fleadh competition. It's Scottish and not traditional, although a lot of people seem to think it is.
I was at school with Dougie, and am probably one of the first people to hear him sing it after he wrote it, when he came back to Scotland from Brittany after leaving the "Tannahill Weavers" ( the "friends he needed losing" at that time, I believe, but all is well now ). This would have been in 1977, I think , and "Cos" and "Ptarmigan" might remember those days.
5 years ago, I remember arriving in Miltown Malbay for the Willie Clancy week, walking down the street, and the first piece of music I heard was somebody singing "Caledonia".

# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Kenny

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

P.S. - don't think you'd have any problem with "Wind That Shakes The Barley". Good luck.

# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Kenny

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Indeed I do Kenny.
In fact I remember Dessie telling me of Dougie singing that song to them in Brittany, just after he'd written it.
Sheeees ... that's over thirty years ago. Where did the time go? :-)
Kenny, I suppose you heard Caledonia sung in Oz too?
Cheers
Dick

# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Ptarmigan

Re: Is Caledonia a traditional irish song?

Nor is "Fiddler's Green", though often quoted as such. It was written by the excellent John Conolly of Cleethorpes/Grimsby in the late 60's. Though the Irish connection might still be claimed because of John's Irish surname I suppose.

God be with all here!

# Posted on May 1st 2008 by Ebor_fiddler

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