The phrase Room to Roam comes from a poem by Huntly-born author George MacDonald , in his work Phantastes , first published in 1858. The Waterboys set the words to music in the title track of their 1990 Room to Roam album. Jacques Coetzer has been collaborating with Mike Scott of The Waterboys to develop this into a 'town anthem'.
George MacDonald (1824 - 1905) born in Huntly, was a writer known for his Christian and fantasy literature and who influenced C. S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia). Much of his writing was based on childhood experiences in Huntly. He wrote the book Phantastes in 1885, which includes the poem Room to Roam
Mike Scott (1958 -) born in Edinburgh, is the lead singer of the Rock band, The Waterboys. He has recorded 12 albums and has had international hits with the songs, Whole of the moon and Fisherman's Blues. In 1990 he set the Room to Roam poem to music, recording it as the title track of an album released that same year.
Lyrics:
Room to Roam
You go yours
and I'll go mine
the many ways we wend
Many days
and many ways
ending in one end Many a wrong and its curing song
many a road and many an inn
Room to roam but only one home
for all the world to win So you go yours
and I'll go mine
and the many many ways we'll wend
Many days and many ways
ending in one end
----o----
Room to roam but only one home
for all the world to win So you go yours
and I'll go mine
and the many many ways we'll wend
Many days and many ways
ending in one end Room to roam but only one home
ending in one end