New Song: "TO ALISTAIR OF FORDELL"

Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space:

I don't know why, but songs always seem to come to me during the wee hours when I'm trying to get some sleep.

That's how this latest composition came to me.

It has a very lively, typically Celtic tune.

Being the bard of my Scottish clan, I have a responsibility to note significant events in our clan's history by composing original poetry or ballads.

This song marks the planned visit to the United States in October 2006 by our clan chief, Alistair Henderson of Fordell, who resides in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Here is the song:

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TO ALISTAIR OF FORDELL
(CHIEF OF THE NAME AND ARMS OF CLAN HENDERSON)

Words and Music by:
John Robert Mallernee,
Bard of Clan Henderson

VERSE # 1:

Comes the Autumn of
Two Thousand and Six,
The American Hendersons
Gather and mix.
From his home "down under"
So far away,
Our chief, Alistair,
Will come for a stay.
Raise high the banner
And pipe up the band.
Our chief will visit
America's land.
There'll be dancing
And tables of food,
For Clan Henderson's
In a festival mood.

CHORUS:

Huzzah! Huzzah!
For our Chief,
We raise a cheer!
American Hendersons
Gaily rejoice,
For the chief
Of our clan is here.
The tartan that
We're wearing
And the sword blades
That we show
Pay homage to
Our great clan's chief,
For all the world to know.

VERSE # 2:

American Hendersons,
Gather you 'round.
The pipers will play us
A marvelous sound.
We honor the chief
Of our Henderson clan,
Welcoming here
This Australian man.
Sweet bonny lassies
Will sparkle and smile,
And the laddies will all
Lose their hearts for a while.
They circle around
With the "VIRGINIA REEL",
Stepping to music
With toe and with heel.

VERSE # 3:

The auld Scottish hielands
Are so far away.
But, misty green memories
Ever will stay.
Clan Henderson
Is ancient and strong,
Renowned forever
In story and song.
The American clansmen
Are happy today,
For the chief of our clan
Is here for a stay.
And when he returns
To his Toowoomba clime,
We Americans still
Will remember this time.

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Composed Thursday 16 February 2006 at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C.

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Now comes the hard part - - - rehearsing and memorizing this thing!

It's possible I may add another verse or two later on.

Thank you.

John Robert Mallernee, KB3KWS
Official Bard of Clan Henderson
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Washington, D.C. 20011-8400

"My personal opinions are independent of my Scottish clan."