Paul Douglas's Page

Here is my LYRIC to HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL endorsed by the Composer, Michael Korb and by The Minister for Culture at The Scottish Parliament, Mr. Michael Russell :-

HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL – Lyric by Paul Douglas (7/09/09)

Far from the Hills and Glens the Scots have roamed,
But to their Kith and Kin, they`re coming home,
Home to the Land that`s so divinely formed,
Home to the Land where their forebears – were born.

Home to the Bruce and to the Wallace brave,
Home to the people no power could enslave.
This Land of friendship, so united - strong,
This Land of SCOTLAND - where we all belong.

Can you see – what you mean to me
Oh Beautiful land thou a-a-a-art.
Can you see – what you mean to me,
Dearest land of my yearning Heart.

This Land of honour where all men are Free,
This land of beauty and tran-quil-i-ty.
Land of Saint Andrew, where Scots proud-ly wave,
Their flag of Scotland the Saltire he gave.

This Land of Friendship, so united – strong,
This Land of SCOTLAND – where we all belong.

Paul Douglas (c)

Here is my Poem `The Bridge`, which I wrote to mark the Opening of the CLACKMANNANSHIRE BRIDGE on the 19th November 2008 by Alec Salmond, the First Minister :-

The BRIDGE!

I came upon her from the south
one dark and windswept night,
above the coal black water
stretched this arc of dazzling white.
A mystic power beyond my ken
drew me toward its source
and like a moth drawn to a flame,
I yielded to this force.
“I am the Great Clackmannan,
the Lord of Ochil Land,
I light the way by night and day,
come, let me take your hand.
I`ll lead you to that promised place
of beauty and abundance,
where hills are green, yet red at dawn
when rising sun rays dance.
I am the Mighty Manau,
resurrected from the past,
imprisoned here a thousand years,
I`ve been set free at last!
I straddle this great river now,
inviting those who roam,
to travel safe upon my back
for I will take them home.
Home tae `Look Aboot Ye` Land,
known as the County Wee,
where once ye view her splendour
ye will ever want tae be!”

Paul Douglas (c).
Clackmannan Poet.

I am a Senior Citizen, a Poet and an Author, who lives in the Old Town of CLACKMANNAN. which used to be the County Town of CLACKMANNANSHIRE before the `Port`, which it was, silted up!
The town is now about a mile from the River Forth!
The new County Town on the River Forth has been ALLOA since1832. Although Clackmannan has a population of about 3,500., there does not appear to be a lot going on and it is quite easy to miss it if you are driving along the A907 Bypass on your way to ALLOA.
However, Clackmannan has a TOWER built by King David and bought by Robert Bruce in 1359 and a Church, part of which dates back to 1249! At the top of the MAIN Street is the TOLBOOTH (1592) which used to be a Court, Prison and an Admin Centre.
Another notable feature is the MERCAT CROSS (1600`s), which still shows signs of wear from the chains worn by prisoners.
The name of the town needs explaining:- CLACK simply means Stone and MANNAN comes from the name of the Celtic God MANNAU. The Stone itself stands on a block of the same stone cut from the ABBEY CRAIG where the WALLACE MONUMENT now stands.
The Town has an excellent Primary School, a Town Hall, Health Clinic, Pharmacy, Library, Post Office, Co-op (you can`t survive in Scotland without the Co-op!), a first class Fish and Chip shop where every meal is cooked to order, Indian and Asian takeaways, a Hairdressers, a Bowling and Pool Club and The Horseshoe Bar.
On the surface CLACKMANNAN appears to be a backwater from a bygone age but just below the surface it is a hive of activity, a really prospering community of caring people with a lot happening on a daily basis which the passer-by does not see!
I am retired now and my wife and I just love living in CLACKMANNAN. I write poetry and books and I have just written a Lyric to the music of HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL, which has been endorsed by the Composer and the Minister of Culture for Scotland, so I am looking for lots of people, choirs and singers to perform my work so that all Scots can be proud of their Heritage and enjoy proclaiming it. I am printing my Lyric here so that you may ALL SING IT, because I reckon you know the music already!
That`s it I think - oops, hang on a minute - I forgot to mention the OPENING of the New CLACKMANNANSHIRE BRIDGE on the 19th of November 2008 by First Minister Alec Salmond. I wrote a Poem in Honour of the occasion (Not a lot of people know that!)
and here it is also for you to, hopefully, ENJOY.

Paul Douglas.

Before I retired to CLACKMANNAN - The WEE County with the BIG Reputation - I was a professional coach in Surrey. Most of my childhood was spent in CARNOUSTIE, where I went to PANBRIDE PRIMARY and then qualified for ARBROATH HIGH SCHOOL, where my cousin Eric went before me. He was my childhood hero and served with distinction in the Royal Navy during WW2. I remember he married a beautiful young lass from POMPEY and they had two Bonnie Wee Lassies - One was quiet and demure and the other a tomboy! We lived on a small farm just outside Carnoustie and had no running water or electricity - it was a hard life but there was much to learn which stood me in good stead when I did my National Servicein SUEZ. I started writing poetry as a boy and here is my first Limerick:-

There was a young lad from Carnoustie
whose gowff clubs got terribly roostie!
But he now can be seen,
down on the Green,
Practisin`- just like he use tae!

(Copyright Paul Douglas.)

I think that`s quite enough aboot ma early years the now! CLACKMANNAN is coming up next!

Paul Douglas.

I retired to CLACKMANNAN with my beautiful wife Priscilla in 2007.The ties of much of my childhood, and regular visits back to the country I call home, made the move back to Scotland inevitable and all part of the great Creator`s plan I guess! We have two fantastic sons, Alan and Craig, who are both involved in sport or the leisure industry. They both work down south but come up to see us whenever they can!

The MUSIC - above Left - is HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL, performed byThe Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. My LYRIC for you to sing-a-long with the H.C. music, is entered below My Poem - The Bridge (for which there is NO music yet!).
Please start the Music and then quickly scroll down so that you can Sing-a-Long. If enough people start singing my Words to Highland Cathedral it might well soon be in the running to become our Next NATIONAL ANTHEM.

Dear Elli,
I have left you a message on your Home page about a recording of my Lyric to Highland Cathedral - which I am hoping to arrange soon!
I do hope you will be able to feature it as you suggested some time ago?
Take care,
Paul Douglas.