> Folk Music > Songs > The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeeen

The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeeen

[ Roud 47856 ; DT NRTHLITE ; Mudcat 6987 ; Mary Webb (1906–1989)]

The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen song is a traditional Scottish song written by Mary Webb [in 1952] for a home sick Aberdonian lass who she worked with in a hospital kitchen. Mary Webb was English and lived in London and had never been to Aberdeen, Scotland. She was born in Leamington Spa and was a concert pianist.

Her fellow worker was invited to Mary’s house for tea and when they were talking about Aberdeen Mary asked if that was where the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, could be seen. Mary Webb composed the words to Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen to cheer up the homesick woman.

Mary Webb then sent the Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen lyrics to Robert Wilson who was a Scottish tenor. He sang it at the Albert Hall and the song grew in popularity. Mary Webb came to the Granite City and performed it at the Tivoli Theatre.

Mary Webb died at Charing Cross Hospital in London aged 88 years. By co-incidence the BBC were making a documentary about her and found that her body had remained unclaimed for three weeks. Her ashes were scattered in the grounds of Kaimhill Crematorium. Her John Broadwood piano on which she composed it was saved by broadcaster, author and journalist Jack Webster who was working for BBC Scotland and presented to the Council. It stayed in storage in Kittybrewster before being put on display in 2009 and unveiled by Lord Provost Peter Stephen, Duncan Hendry the head of HMT (His Majesty’s Theatre) and Jack Webster. The piano can now be seen in the Mary Garden room of the Music Hall. The documentary about Mary Webb was shown on BBC Scotland in 1989.

Robert Wilson with Jimmy Shand and His Band sang The Northern Lights of Aberdeen in 1953 on the His Master’s Voice 78 rpm 10" shellac record B.10521.

Iona Fyfe sang The Northern Lights on an April 2023 download single. She noted:

A version of Mary Webb’s iconic The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen, released in collaboration with Aberdeen Football Club.

This video shows Iona Fyfe singing The Northern Lights on 28 August 2021 at Pittodrie Stadium, home of Aberdeen FC:

Lyrics

Mary Webb’s The Northern Lights

When I was a lad, a tiny wee lad,
My mother said to me,
Come see the Northern Lights my boy,
They’re bright as they can be.
She called them the heavenly dancers,
Merry dancers in the sky,
I’ll never forget that wonderful sight,
They made the heavens bright.

Chorus:
The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen
Mean Home Sweet Home to me.
The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen
Are what I long to see.
I’ve been a wand’rer all of my life
And many a sight I’ve seen,
God speed the day when I’m on my way
To my home in Aberdeen.

I’ve wandered in many far-off lands,
And travelled many a mile.
I’ve missed the folk I’ve cherished most,
The joys of a friendly smile.
It warms up the heart of a wand’rer,
The clasp of a welcoming hand,
To greet me when I return,
Home to my native land.

Iona Fyfe sings The Northern Lights

When I was a lad, a tiny wee lad
My mither said tae me
Come see the Northern Lights my child
They’re bright as they can be
She called them the heavenly dancers
Merry dancers in the sky
I’ll never forget that wonderful sight
They made the heavens bright

Chorus:
The northern lights of old Aberdeen
Mean home sweet home tae me
The northern lights of Aberdeen
Are what I long tae see
I’ve been a wanderer all o my life
Any many a sight I’ve seen
God speed the day when l’m on my way
To my home in Aberdeen

I’ve wandered in mony far-aff lands
And traivelled mony a mile
I’ve missed the folk I’ve cherished most
The joy o a friendly smile
It warms up the hairt o a wand’rer
The clasp of a welcomin hand
Tae greet me when, I return
Hame tae my native land