I thought this song was a "traditional" song when I first learned it. When I started digging for stories and making sure I was all legal and stuff, I found that this song was written in the 50s by William and Francis McPeake of Northern Ireland.
This is one of my favorite songs to sing a festivals and fairs. Many people know it and the melody lends itself to everyone joining in on the chorus. I positively love it when an audience is free and happy enough to join in. The warmth of sound that comes up to me as I sing behind a microphone with all this electrically fortified sound is like sinking into a natural hot spring after visiting busy bustling city streets. That's the sound I wanted to capture here on this CD. Ceridwyn Mizera added her heartfelt warm voice in the chorus. Cayla Cardiff improvised harmonies for the entire song that are never the same twice. The result is completely unique and totally from the heart. It makes me smile and sometimes cry at the same time.
O the summer time is comin' And the trees are sweetly blooming And wild mountain thyme Grows around the bloomin' heather. Will ye go, lassie, go?