Through the Heather - Inspired by the Magnificat and the Scottish Marian Devotional Tradition

THROUGH THE HEATHER An original Marian song from Four Angry Dachshunds. Through the Heather began with the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) and Mary's great proclamation: “Great things the Mighty One has done, And HOLY is His Name.” The song follows a journey through the Scottish Highlands with Mary walking beside us—not as the destination, but as the Mother who continually leads us to her Son. Its Scottish imagery was inspired in part by Robert Tannahill’s The Braes o’ Balquhither and by the Marian prayers and poetry collected by Alexander Carmichael in Carmina Gadelica (1900), including The Virgin and Child and The Feast Day of Mary. The song also draws upon Mary’s words at Cana—“Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5)—and Christ’s words from the Cross: “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). Heather, mountains, glens, winter storms and the homeward road become part of a simple journey: Come with me. Find shelter. Endure the storm. Journey home. The lyrics are an original work inspired by Sacred Scripture and Scottish Christian, literary and musical traditions. The finished musical setting is not presented as a reproduction of any historical melody. Four Angry Dachshunds Through the Heather LYRICS Mary, bright as moonrise Over mountains in the night At Your name we call You, Mother Lead us onward to the light Mary, walk this road beside us Through the valley, through the glen Keep us ever close to Jesus 'Til we come safely home to Him Come with me across the mountain Where the purple heather grows Where the morning crowns the highlands And the silver water flows There our mother walks beside us Gentle as the rising dawn Through the beauty of creation She will lead us to her Son My soul magnifies the Lord My spirit sings for joy For He has looked upon His servant The humble and the lowly Great things the Mighty One has done And HOLY is His Name His mercy flows from age to age Forevermore the same O magnify the Lord with me That heaven and earth proclaim Great things the Mighty One has done And HOLY is His Name By the spring of living water Where the mountain flowers bloom 'Neath her mantle find your shelter For the weary there is room Keep us righteous, keep us loving Wise and merciful as rule Then she whispers, do whatever He shall tell you now to do From this day all generations Shall call His servant blessed For the Mighty One has done great things And HOLY is His Name Great things the Mighty One has done, and HOLY is His Name His mercy flows from age to age, forevermore the same O magnify the Lord with me, let heaven and earth proclaim Great things the Mighty One has done and HOLY is His Name When the winter wind is crying And the storm sweeps through the glen When the darkness gathers round us And the night seems without end At the cross behold our mother Faithful when the light is gone See our mother speaks the Savior 'Til she leads us to her Son He has cast the mighty from their thrones And lifted up the small The hungry He has filled with good His mercy reaches all Great things the Mighty One has done And HOLY is His Name His mercy flows from age to age Forevermore the same O magnify the Lord with me Let heaven and earth proclaim Great things the Mighty One has done And HOLY is His Name When the summer crowns the mountain And the kind is on the air We will take the homeward pathway With our mother walking there Past the glen and through the heather Past the ending of our days 'Til she brings us home to Jesus And our song becomes His praise He remembers still His people His promise and His mercy too As He cometh to our fathers His covenant remains true Great things the Mighty One has done And HOLY is His Name His mercy flows from age to age Forevermore the same O magnify the Lord with me Let heaven and earth proclaim Great things the Mighty One has Done And HOLY is His Name......... Mary, bright as moonrise, Still before us in the night, At your name we call you Mother; Walk beside us toward the Light. Mary, as the road winds onward, Through the valley, through the glen, Keep our footsteps close to Jesus, Till at last we're home with Him.