Dougie MacLean - Caledonia

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Caledonia’ - Dougie MacLean

We go back into our archives for this wonderful anthemic live version of ‘Caledonia’ by Dougie Maclean.

Dougie wrote the song in less than 10 minutes on a beach in Brittany, France, feeling homesick for Scotland. He said: “I was in my early 20s and had been busking around with some Irish guys. I was genuinely homesick. I’d always lived in Perthshire. I played it to the guys when I got back to the youth hostel where we were staying and that was the final straw – we all went home the next day." He adds: "It took about 10 minutes but sometimes that’s how songs happen. I'm still amazed at how much it has become part of common culture. There’s not a pub singer, busker or pipe band that doesn’t play it."

Caledonia" was first recorded by Dougie and published in his 1979 joint album also titled ‘Caledonia’ by Alan Roberts and Doug MacLean.

http://www.dougiemaclean.com/