Away to the westward I’m longing to be
Where the beauties of heaven unfold by the sea
Where the sweet purple heather blooms fragrant and free
On a hilltop high above the Dark Island
Chorus
Isle o’ my childhood I’m dreaming of thee
As the Steamer leaves Oban and passes Tiree
Soon I’ll capture the magic that still lingers for me
When I’m back once more upon my Dark Island.
So gentle the sea breeze that ripples the bay
Where the stream joins the ocean and young children play
On the strand of pure silver I’ll welcome each day
And I’ll roam for ever more the Dark Island
True gem of the Herbrides bathed in the light
Of the midsummer dawning that follows the night
How I yearn for the cries of the seagulls in flight
As they circle above the Dark Island
I seem to recall asking Colin about it once and I think it’s a small island called “Benbecula” or similar.
“The island is also known in Gaelic poetry as An t-Eilean Dorcha “the dark island”. The well-known tune “The Dark Island” was written by accordionist Iain MacLachlan from Benbecula.”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benbecula
All the best,
Uwe
Is there a Dark Island, Mull, Skye? Or is it catch all for a number of Islands of the Hebrides?