Summer Party

Lore & Background

The song is about the sport of shinty. The first verse revolves around a team making their way to an away game, through "straths and glens". Prominent throughout the song is the use of nicknames. The second verse is a portrayal of a game against Kinlochshiel, the only shinty team named in the song in the line: "But if we do all that and there’s no-one spare / Tell me who’s gonna mark the Kinlochshiel Bear."

This verse refers to various positions on the shinty park as well as the sawdust, a reference to the penalty box a.k.a. the "D" which is often marked out with sawdust instead of paint. The final verse references shinty's long history (shared with hurling) which stretches back to ancient Celtic history: "And for every fighting Highland man / Stand by your brother, die for the clan." The song also praises the amateur status of those who play the sport: "These shinty boys shine like the sun. / We don’t play for fame, we don’t play for cash / We just play for the glory, and the clash of the ash."

Reader's Guide

The CD single (Netherlands) includes: "Clash of the Ash" (Fiddle – Adam Sutherland, written by Calum Macdonald, Rory Macdonald) – 2:40, and "Sona" (written by Calum Macdonald, Malcolm Jones and Rory Macdonald) – 3:25. The CD single (UK and Denmark) includes: "Clash of the Ash" (Fiddle – Adam Sutherland, written by Calum Macdonald, Rory Macdonald) – 2:40.