A Tribute To The Scottish Roots of "The King"
A while ago I posted a humorous (well, I always think that I am funny) article on WinCustomize entitled "Och, aye, Scotland." It was a tribute to my good friends in the skinning community - Hippy and Voodoo Freak. If you are not familiar with their works of art, get over to WinCustomize and check it out. Wait! Finish reading this first (I need the points!)
Today, I learned that among other wonderful artists having their roots in Scotland is none other than Elvis Presley, the King. Don't believe me? Click on the link.
"Elvis fans have a new shrine to their hero -- a remote Scottish hamlet named this week as the ancestral home of the king of rock 'n' roll. After six years of research, writer Allan Morrison says the singer was the direct descendant of blacksmith Andrew Presley who lived 300 years ago in the Aberdeenshire village of Lonmay."
Well, I must admit I was shocked. So I asked my good buddy Tavish MacSchwartzburg if he could shed a wee bit o' light on the matter.
"Och, aye, I am nae suprised. The Presley family is a good Scottish clan. They have long been a source of pride to all of us. I'm glad that the rest of the world is finally learning the truth.
All the peices fit together if you know where to look. Elvis' obsession with fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches? It was a result of his being denied haggis, the natural food for a young Scotsman. Well, you cannae have everything.
Andrew lived in Lonmay a long time ago. He was the village blacksmith and more than that, an inventor. T'was Andrew that invented the first amplified instrument. Unfortunately, it was the bagpipe. Och, well, you work with what's available.
Quite loud it was when he played it. Could hear it throughout Aberdeenshire. Scared the living beejezus out of the tourist, a good thing if you ask me. But Andrew wouldn't stop. Finally his neighbors could nae take it nae more. They gathered up piles of stones and began to fling them at poor Andrew, saying he was naught but a houndog, rockin' all the time. Well, he took to his heals and headed for the hills with the crowd in hot pursuit. He made his way up the side of the hill and continued his caterwauling. But when he started his descent down the other side, the poor lad lost his footing. He descended the hill on his side. Well, the angry crowd continued to throw stones at him.
The experience stayed with Andrew all his life. The Presley family passed the story down from generation to generation. Finally it came to young Elvis. When he asked how his famous ancestor came to leave Scotland and head off for the shores of America, the answer was simple. It was due to (are you ready, you sure you're ready? okay, then) Rock and Roll.
Or as we say in Scotland, Rrrrrrrrock and Rrrrrrroll!
I hope you got a laugh out of this. I mean at it's heart 'tis a tragic story. Poor Andrew had to flee for his life. For if he had stayed in Scotland, he could have been..............kilt. 