A message from Brian Stanic:
My partner and I attended the Aurora lecture at Hertfordshire University earlier this week [December 2016].
When the presentation reached the part about northern Scotland, I was curious to hear if you knew about an old Scottish song relating to the Aurora, The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen. It fits in with your other observations of the aurora – that it is more than just about science and has prompted people to write songs, poetry etc.
This is the song:
And these are the lyrics (courtesy of Darachweb):
The northern lights of old Aberdeen
Mean home sweet home to me
The northern lights of Aberdeen
Are what I long to see
I’ve been a wanderer all of my life
And many a sight I’ve seen
God speed the day, when I’m on my way
To my home in Aberdeen
Whan I was a lad, a tiny wee lad
My mother said to me
Come see the northen lights my boy
They’re bright as they can be
She called them the heavenly dancers
Merry dancers in the sky
I’ll never forget that wonderful sight
They made the heavens bright
I’ve wandered in many far off lands
And traveled many a mile
I’ve missed the folk I’ve cherished the most
The joy of a friendly smile
It warms up the heart of the wanderer
The clasp of a welcoming hand
To greet me when I return
Home to my native land
Brian Stanic
Welwyn Garden City, UK
