In 2018 I was contacted by Paul Davy, asking if he could use one of my photos of the Ronnie & Morgan stone at the Tomb of the Eagles, South Ronaldsay, for the cover of a C.D. he was working on which includes a song called ‘Ancestors’, inspired by the Stone and the words on the plaque attached to it
‘In Loving Memory Of
RONNIE & MORGAN
Together With The Ancestors’
He described his song thus…
“My song is a strange mix of part love song and part, you will know when your time’s up in this world when the ancestors come calling. It was inspired by the stone and that plaque.”
Paul had seen a couple of my photos in an article in The Orkney News…
I replied, sending him more photos, saying that that he was more than welcome to use any that he chose, and that I was pleased as punch that he wanted to! Not only pleased that he was meaning to use my photo/s, but also that he’d written a song for/about Ronnie and Morgan and…The Ancestors.
After visiting the re-opened Eagle Cairn and Visitor Centre this year, Mike and I were talking about how Team Eagles are focusing on not only the archaeology, but also the people, past and more recent, and what a good thing that is, and I thought I’d email Paul with my tale of our return there…
Paul responded by sending me a picture of the cover of his C.D
Then the C.D. itself, with an information booklet which contains the lyrics of the ‘Ancestors’ song
Ancestors
“I can hear all their voices as I walk down the road, leading me back to my home.
It’s the ancestors calling and singing our tune, as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.
Chorus…
Turn me around at the end of the day. We’ll be dancing by the stars and the moon.
The ancestors calling and singing our tune, as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.
You stand on the cliffs, watch the sun going down as the light on the sea fades away,
I reach out and touch, now I’m holding your hand, as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.
Chorus…
Turn me around at the end of the day. We’ll be dancing by the stars and the moon.
The ancestors calling and singing our tune as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.
Walking through history, dark clouds and the rain. The stones standing waiting alone.
They look to the future, one foot in the past, as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.
Chorus…
Turn me around at the end of the day. We’ll be dancing by the stars and the moon.
The ancestors calling and singing our tune, as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.
So let’s drink to each other, as I’m holding your hand. Sharing this moment with you.
The ancestors calling and singing our tune, as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.”
Chorus…
Turn me around at the end of the day. We’ll be dancing by the stars and the moon.
The ancestors calling and singing our tune, as I’m dancing a slow waltz with you.
Paul Davy
It turns out that the image he used on the cover is a photograph by Anabel Marsh as credited in the booklet, fair enough as it’s a fitting, atmospheric image.
Here’s something Mike wrote – not about Ronnie & Morgan’s stone, but it follows a similar thought-line
The Visitor Centre closed on Sunday 18th October this year and will re-open in the Spring – check the website/FB for details