Proposed Title: These are my mountains
The Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highlands Festival is held in Estes Park each year the week after Labor Day. I discovered this gem back in 1999, the year I moved out to Colorado. I was hiking earlier that day up at Rocky Mountain National Park and ran into a major traffic jam in Estes Park on my way back. I decided to check out what all the fuss was about.
The sound of bagpipes filled the air as I meandered throughout the fairgrounds adjacent to Lake Estes. I then tripped over a rope holding up a performance tent and stumbled into a crowd of happy people listening to a guy named Alex Beaton singing Scottish folk music. Everyone was singing along to the following song:
“For these are my mountains…
And this is my glen…
The braes of my childhood…
Will know me again…
No lands ever claimed me…
Though far I have roamed…
For these are my mountains…
And I’m coming home…”
From the song These are my Mountains by Alex Beaton
I was hooked. He captured how I felt about my new home in Colorado. Also, the guy was hilarious. Back then, Alex looked like Sean Connery and spoke with a thick Scottish accent. In between songs, he entertained the crowd with stories of historical significance from medieval times in Scotland.
It became a tradition of mine to see Alex at the festival each year. He was always there with a new album of songs and/or his wry sense of humor. I once asked him what it was like to perform year in and year out at the festival. He responded simply with “Madness, utter madness” and walked away.
Unfortunately, this year Alex will not be at the festival. Back in July, Alex fell ill and is currently in the battle of his life to recover. I hope he does. I hope he returns to the festival soon, because autumn won’t seem the same without him.
Another of Alex’s songs that captures the spirit of his music is called River and here are some of the lyrics:
“River…
Take me along…
In your sunshine…
Sing me a song…
Ever moving…
And winding and free…
You rolling old river…
You changing old river…
Let’s you and me river…
Run down to the sea…”
From the song River by Alex Beaton
Over the years, it has also become a tradition of mine to play Alex Beaton music in the Jeep on my way to hiking adventures. His story telling of adventures from long ago inspires the attitude necessary to attack life boldly with a can-do spirit. And though his music might be an acquired taste, like fine wine, it has aged gracefully into my western experience. The affect the environment has in your life dominates his songs from hills, to mountains, and from the sea to the shore.
One song Alex sings that I think sums up how I feel on this anniversary of 9/11 is called Flower of Scotland. Some of the lyrics follow:
“Oh flower of Scotland…
When will we see…
Your like again…
Who fought and died for…
Your wee but hill and glen..
And stood against them…
Proud Edward’s army…
And sent them homeward…
To think again…
Those days are past now…
And in the past…
They must remain…
But we can still rise now…
And be the nation again…
That stood against them…
Proud Edward’s army…
And sent them homeward…
To think again.”
Let this be a reminder to those who tried to bring our nation to its knees…we will rise…and be a great nation again.
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