Scotland’s Air

Nearly ten years ago, Betsy, the kids, and I packed up and moved to St Andrews, Scotland for a year while I was in graduate school. It was a big move and took months of preparation. Jude and Eleanor were wee ones and completely clueless as to the enormity of such a move for our little family of four. But as the day grew closer and closer, Betsy and I grew more and more nervous.

That year in Scotland, however, was the best year of our life. We look back on it with the fondest of memories–the beauty, the history, the people. We made friends that remain to be some of our closest.

A couple months ago, I learned that one of my favorite footballers on my favorite team is Scottish. I felt a surge of pride, like he was from my own homeland or something. Of course, I know he isn’t. I don’t have a strand of Scottish DNA in my blood, at least not that I know of. However, I did live there, immersed in the culture. I ate the food, drank the water, walked the cobblestones. I woke up each morning and breathed in deeply the air of “The Auld Grey Toon.”

I may not have Scottish blood in my veins, but I think I still have some of its air in my lungs.

This song is an ode to Scotland. Its chorus exclaims, “slainte mhath” (pronounced more like “slahnge evah”), which is how one toasts or says “cheers” (literally, “to good health”) in Scots. The verses contain references to favorite places and memories.

Our family will likely never live in Scotland again, but it will forever remain our home across the sea.

Credits

Words & Music: Bill Wolf