Alexander(Head O' Our Clan)

[Intro] Spoken [gentle, reverent)]: "Aaa-lex-AN-der"... "Aaa-lex-AN-der Cun-ning-HAM"… "Head o’ our claaaan"… [Verse 1] Alexander Cunningham… head o’ our clan Did ye ever dream how the line would expand From the cold northern hills and the salt-driven rain To far distant shores and a new life gained Born o’ the valleys, through blood and through name Carried by tide and the pull o’ the same Some tae the sea and were lost tae the foam Some lit their fires and called strange places home [Chorus] Ohhh the tide rolls on, and the name rolls strong Through the wind and the wave and the old sea song From the North Sea grey tae the southern sun We are the blood o’ the father and son [Verse 2] Cellar-dyke born by the harbour and stone Mamma and pappa, a life tightly sewn Kil-renny raised wi’ the craft in his hand Net lines and timber, the shaping o’ man Many a soul from the deep he would save Pulling men back from the grip o’ the wave True was the mariner, steady and tried A man o’ the sea wi’ the turn o’ the tide [Chorus] Ohhh the tide rolls on, and the name rolls strong Through the wind and the wave and the old sea song From the North Sea grey tae the southern sun We are the blood o’ the father and son [Verse 3] Salt in his blood and the sea in his eyes He read the water like reading the skies Hands like rope and a heart held true Guiding men home when the wild winds blew Through winter gales and the black rolling foam He carried the lost and he brought them home And the name Cunningham carried along Through tide and time and the fisher’s song [Verse 4] Sailed wi’ his son when the old world was gone Wife and the boys… mamma sadly passed on Australia bound for a life born anew With grief in the wake and the wide ocean blue Shipwright and captain, he carved out his way Built him a future from salt and from spray Found love again on that faraway land Still wi’ the sea in the work o’ his hands [Chorus – Group] Ohhh the tide rolls on, and the name rolls strong Sing it loud now, carry it on From the North Sea grey tae the southern sun We are the blood o’ the father and son [Outro] And though oceans divide what the heart cannae break Ye still hear the sea in the dreams that we take And some say still where the harbour lights gleam When the fog rolls heavy like half-remembered dream Ye’ll see him stand where the tide meets the night Calling lost vessels toward the light Alexander… still guiding on In every wave… his name rolls on [Final Spoken] "Aaa-lex-AN-der"... "Aaa-lex-AN-der Cun-ning-HAM"… ..."Head o’ our claaaan"… [bagpipes and echo]