Designed & produced by Eric Maclewis
© ericdentinger.com
2008-2024
The origins of this tune and of its name are pretty unknown: sailors music used to make the bears dance; american melody referring to the black american bear and pointing at the military black feather bonnet; the Black Baird for the soldiers beard; the Black Bere, meaning the black barley used to make a beer... and, talking about sailors music, why not a reference to the famous Blackbeard, the renowned pirate?
Played at first as a Hornpipe, The Black Bear is now a quick regimental march, frequently played in association with Scotland The Brave.
Lyrics - called The Tunes Of Glory - have been added more recently.
The Tunes Of Glory
(Grant/Stewart)
Now when the pipes are ringing and the kilts are swinging
And your heart is singing as you gaily march along
You hear the story that is brave and roary
In the tunes of glory of an old Scots song
If you’re standing near them and you ever hear them
You will want to cheer them as you feel the glory there
The music fills you and the drum beat wills you
And the rythm thrills you of the old black bear
Brave are the orders we carry before us
Brave are the hearts that will lift in the chorus
Hear them playing, hear them saying
That is the story in the tunes of glory
If you’re standing near them and you ever hear them
You will want to cheer them as you feel the glory there
The music fills you and the drum beat wills you
And the rythm thrills you of the old black bear
Brave are the orders we carry before us
Brave are the hearts that will lift in the chorus
Hear them playing, hear them saying
That is the story in the tunes of glory
The Black Bear
LYRICS
* Listen on the album (2nd tune) *
- score written by Eric Maclewis with CelticPipes
MARCH