Mareena's 'Pick of the Week'

4. The Ghosts of Culloden by Isla Grant - Mother (2001)

Why did I choose this song? Isla Grant is an international singer/songwriter born in Wigtownshire, Scotland (which is within the county of Dumfries, Scotland). However, Isla and her family eventually settled in the Scottish Borders. Isla grew up in a musical family - her father's side of the family were highland bagpipe players, and her mother's side of the family were violin and accordian players. When she fourteen years old, Isla began singing, focusing on country music. Isla turned professional until 1992 when an horrific car accident involving herself and her husband Al, forced her to stop touring for five years. During her recuperation, Isla started composing more of her own music and released a CD of Hank Williams covers on her own record label in October of 2008.

Charles Edward Stuart - Charles III
Better known as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' or 'The Young Pretender' 

Prince William Augustus - Duke of Cumberland
Better known as 'Butcher Cumberland'

The Ghosts of Culloden was written by Isla Grant and is about 'The Battle of Culloden', which was fought on April 16, 1746. 'The Battle of Culloden' was the final battle of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 and was between the forces of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' - Charles Edward Stuart and Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland - who earned the title 'Butcher Cumberland' because of his actions during the Battle of Culloden. Even though the British did win the Battle of Culloden, the victory is not considered a battle honor.

Allegedly, on each anniversary of the Battle of Culloden - April 16 - people claim to have seen phantoms all along the moor and to hear the ghostly sounds of battle between the soldiers who can not rest in peace. While no birds sing on Culloden Moor these days, it is said that on the eve of the battle in 1746, the Jacobite commander, Lord George Murray, saw a large black bird rise from the ground in front of him, and fly away. This bird was considered a bad omen and a harbinger of doom for Lord Murray and his men. Although the black bird's apparition is seen somewhat infrequently these days, 'The Great Scree of Culloden Moor' as it is called, always heralds bad luck to people who do see it.