Rhys Landon-Lane – fiffdimension

Songs of alcohol, death, the devil, rebellion, kinship, and love gone awry, from 19th century Scotland:

an adaptation of the book, “Poems and Lyrics (in the English and Scotch dialects)“ by John Collie, of Boyndie (1834-1893),

with music by his descendants, between 2018-2025 in New Zealand and France.

Listen

“Songs from the harp and lyre – a fantastic flow back from the ancient days” – Dr Emit Snake-Beings

“I have been lucky enough to hear some of Dave Edwards work on this at a couple of shows – very cool concept project and worth a listen” – James Trotman

Background

“And with a trembling hand I launch my tiny vessel into the troubled ocean of literature , where many a noble craft has been shattered to pieces…”

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Hans Landon-Lane plays accordion, ukulele and vocal on

Poems & Lyrics by John Collie (1856):

‘Sonnet on Summer‘

“The sweet breath of summer blows fresh o’er each plain

The woods have resumed their lost grandeur again

The grove with the notes of the blackbirds are singing

By fountain and stream the wild flowers are springing […]”

‘The Land of My Youth

“I sing of the land where in youth I have rambled

I sing of her heroes who long long are gone

And I sing of her steep crags where oft I have scrambled

When dull pining cares to me were unknown […]”

‘Here’s a Health to my Cronies’

Here’s a health to my cronies where e’er they reside,

whether this side or that o’ yon big rowing tide

I care na what country or kingdom they claim, be they English or Irish to me it’s the same

Gif their hearts to a glass o’ gude whisky incline, I instantly class them as cronies o’ mine […]”

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