A Song by

Mairi Campbell

& David Francis

Innovative yet steeped in tradition, this duo became internationally famous as The Cast, which recorded the “Auld Lang Syne” heard on Sex and the City.  David is a storyteller, musician, composer, and dance caller, while Mairi has won awards as singer, fiddler, songwriter, teacher and has a one-woman show called “Pulse”.

SOME WAD SAY - lyrics by David Francis, music by Mairi Campbell - Mairi Campbell voice, piano

This song was written as a commission inviting us to write a new song inspired by the work of Robert Burns. I picked out a line, 'Twas pibroch, sang, strathspeys and reels' from Burns's poem, 'A Fiddler in the North' and the song coalesced round that. It would be tempting to see the song as being about clinging to the culture we are rooted in as a consolation in times of difficulty, but I think that would be a dangerous tack in these times. Our culture is a part of us for sure, but too much of the bitter atmosphere of the present time is caused by too strong an adherence to identity, and a defensiveness and belligerence around the concept. No, what we are driving at is the idea that, by sitting down in a room together and sharing what we have to offer, with quiet pride for sure, but in a spirit of exchange and openness, we make the community and conviviality that will 'hearten and sustain us weel', give us the strength not to accept what the powerful think we should be given, and to unmask and challenge their presumptions.   

 --David Francis, January 2017

David’s comments on this selection:

View the lyrics