Bob Dylan’s Scottish connection

Some claim that Bob Dylan the greatest songwriter of all time.

I am a big fan, yet I would not be so bold as to assert that, but I would put him amongst the top few modern-day singer-songwriters.

Dylan once said, if you are a brilliant songwriter, then you do not have to be outstanding at anything else. Sure, his singing might be singular and affecting, and his plucking has a certain dogeared charm, but it is the art of crafting words where Dylan truly stands out from the many.

This makes the inspiration behind many of his writings more interesting.

If Dylan opened a Pandora’s box of fine lyrics, who handed him the key?

The answer… well, as part of HMV’s ‘My Inspiration’ campaign, Dylan was invited to select a lyric or verse that bore the greatest bearing on his life.

He come forward with a humble verse from the Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

Most commonly known as Rabbie Burns, the Scottish poet and lyricist lived from 17591796. Nevertheless, despite the many years between Rabbie and Bob, the ties between them are myriad.

Not only is the national poet of Scotland known for his dialectal authenticity, he was also the progressive ‘Voice of his Nation’, yet, alongside his pointed civil commentary, is a prettiness that certain stuffy cynics have even called sentimentalism.

However, it is this very coupling of everyday emotions and a sense of profound human grandeur that Dylan loves about his verse ‘A Red, Red Rose’, and one he’s been drawing inspiration from since he first read it.

In brief, he was moved by Rabbies words. And as he said himself, “The highest purpose of art is to inspire. What else can you do?

What else can you do for anyone but inspire them?”

Rabbie’s lyrics follow, Dylan picked out the first two verses, as most noteworthy for his creativity.

O my Luve is like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

That’s sweetly played in tune. So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry. Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel awhile!

And I will come again, my luve, Though it were ten thousand mile.

This a simple tale of ever-lasting love (luve), and Rabbie is not afraid to be candid about it.

Like Dylan himself, the lyrics seems selfaware in their declaration that they might be gushing, but what else there to wax about if not the depths of love?

While Dylan never revealed much more about his love for Burns or ‘A Red, Red Rose’ it is likely he would have discovered him when he first got to New York City, where a statue of him stands in Central Park, and he was throwing himself into the literature strewn around the beat cafes.

It was during this period Bob realised the humblest tales could have mighty implications. “Ishmael survives,” Dylan said simply about the narrator’s fate in Moby Dick.

“…That’s the whole story. That theme and all it implies would work its way into more than a few of my songs.”

And therein lies the link between Dylan and the verse. Through nothing other than bold introspection extolled for all to see, Burns’ love has lived on through the ages.

I’ll be surprised if Dylan’s doesn’t too.

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Road tripping around Scotland

Thanks to Celtic Legend car hire

Loch Ness Circular and Inverness

After collection from your hotel/cruise ship, we head to Clava Cairns , this 4,000 year old burial place provided inspiration to Diana Gabaldon for her Outlander series of films and books.

Heading on, to Culloden Battlefield we pass the Cumberland stone on our way and reach the battlefield where, on the 16th April 1746, the last fought pitched battle in the English took place. The result of which changed the way of life in the Highlands forever.

Heading in to Inverness, we pass Inverness castle, and the statue of Flora Macdonald, famous for helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the battle of Culloden.

Passing by Inverness Cathedral along the side of the river Ness, we pass Tomnahurich Hill, which is also We stop briefly at Dochgarroch, to see some magnificent Highland cows before continuing to Loch Ness.

Along Loch Ness side, we stop at the Wellington layby and continue on to Urquhart castle, one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.

Our next stop is at Invermoriston Falls, before we reach Fort Augustus , one of three forts built to suppress the Jacobite uprisings. After lunch, in Fort

Augustus, we head back to Inverness on the south side of Loch Ness, and climb up to the top of Glendoe to the Suidhe viewpoint from where, on a clear day, you will get magnificent views down to Stratherrick, and Strathnairn. Visits to the Falls of Foyers, and then Dores Beach are our final stops before we return you to your Hotel/Cruise ship.

Duration: 8-9 Hours. Privatetour: for 4 people max. Note: This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users due to the Falls of Foyers, and Urquhart castle locations being inaccessible for wheelchairs.

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