In the TV series, music director Bear McCreary selects many traditional Scottish tunes to include in various episodes, as well as 20th century songs as appropriate.
Music by Season[]
Season One[]
Episode | Song | Audio |
---|---|---|
Main Title
|
"The Skye Boat Song" (feat. Raya Yarbrough) | |
Adapted by Bear McCreary from the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. | ||
101
|
"I'm Gonna Get Lit Up (When The Lights Go On In London)" by Carroll Gibbons and the Savoy Hotel Orpheans (1940) | |
Claire and Frank drive through the Highlands. | ||
"Shuffle Rhythm" by Jan Savitt | ||
Frank points out Cocknammon Rock to Claire | ||
"Beneath the Lights of Home" by Geraldo & His Orchestra | ||
Claire and Frank visit the Reverend to confer about Frank's ancestor | ||
"Duan na Muthairn (Rune of the Muthairn)"[1] arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Dance of the Druids (feat. Raya Yarbrough)") | |
Claire and Frank watch the druids as they dance at the stone circle on Craigh na Dun | ||
"Run Rabbit Run" by Harry Roy & His Band | ||
Claire reads in a chair, searching for the plant she saw at the stone circle | ||
"Hamsterheid" by Clanadonia | ||
Claire hears gunfire and men fighting, and runs through the forest. | ||
102
|
"The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Castle Leoch") |
Dougal engages Hamish in swordplay as Claire looks on | ||
"Run Rabbit Run" by Harry Roy & His Band | n/a | |
Claire hums the song to herself, then gathers plants and fungi on the castle grounds | ||
103
|
"Comin' Thro' The Rye" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) |
Claire works in her surgery | ||
"An Fhìdeag Airgid" as sung by Gillebrìde MacMillan | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) | |
Gwyllyn the Bard entertains the MacKenzies with song | ||
"Gradh Geal Mo Chridhe" as sung by Gillebrìde MacMillan | n/a | |
Gwyllyn the Bard entertains the MacKenzies | ||
"The Woman of Balnain" as sung by Gillebrìde MacMillan; arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) | |
Gwyllyn the Bard sings a song about a woman who disappeared on a fairy hill and returned after a time | ||
104
|
"That Lovely Weekend" by Geraldo & His Orchestra, Dorothy Carless | |
Claire talks to Alec about a horse and contemplates her escape plans | ||
"The Haughs o’ Cromdale" arr. Bear McCreary | n/a | |
The Gathering begins | ||
"Clean Pease Strae" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) | |
Dougal enters the game of shinty | ||
105
|
"To the Begging I Will Go" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) |
Dougal and Ned Gowan collect rents | ||
"Mo Nighean Donn Hò Gù" as sung by the waulking women | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Wool Waulking Songs") | |
Claire joins a group of women in waulking wool | ||
"The Skye Boat Song" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "The Losing Side of History") | |
Claire recalls discussing the Jacobites with Frank after recognizing the name "Stuart" in Dougal's Gaelic speech | ||
"The Highland Widow's Lament" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "The Losing Side of History") | |
The rent-collecting group have a funeral for the crucified Scotsmen and Dougal continues to rally support for the Jacobite cause | ||
"The High Road to Linton" arr. by Bear McCreary | n/a | |
Tavern brawl in defense of Claire's honor | ||
"Ye Jacobites by Name" arr. by Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "The Losing Side of History") | |
Claire remembers walking Culloden Moor with Frank | ||
106 | "Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind" arr. Bear McCreary | n/a |
Lord Thomas entertains Claire as his guest | ||
107 | "Celia Learning on the Spinnet" arr. Bear McCreary | n/a |
Ned Gowan is tasked with finding a wedding dress in a brothel | ||
109 | "The Skye Boat Song" arr. Bear McCreary | n/a |
Dougal tries to justify collecting funds for the Jacobite cause | ||
112 | "Comin' Thro' The Rye" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Original Television Soundtrack) |
Claire and Jamie meet and greet with the tenants of Lallybroch. | ||
"The Barnyards of Delgaty" arr. Bear McCreary | n/a | |
Dinner scene | ||
"Maids, When You're Young Never Wed an Old Man" arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Tracking Jamie") | |
Jamie staggers to bed, drunk after a long Quarter Day; reprise the next morning when he's hungover. | ||
114 | "My Bonnie Moorhen"[2] arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Tracking Jamie") |
Claire and Jenny track the redcoats. | ||
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" made famous by The Andrews Sisters and sung by Caitríona Balfe in the episode | Version by The Andrews Sisters (1941) | |
Claire suggests to Murtagh that they step up their act with a song, and sings a few lines of the song. Murtagh likes the tune, but suggests they adapt it to lyrics that their audience would know. Claire sings the tune using Scots lyrics based on the bawdy song "The Reels O' Bogie"[3][4] | ||
"The Keel Row" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Tracking Jamie") | |
Claire and Murtagh take their act on the road, performing their song in the hope that Jamie will hear of them. | ||
"MacPherson's Lament" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Tale of the Tusks") | |
Overwhelmed by worry and stress for Jamie, Claire and Murtagh comfort each other. | ||
116 | "Sleepy Maggie" arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Charge of the Highland Cattle") |
The highlanders rescue Jamie from Wentworth using a stampede of cattle. |
Season Two[]
Episode | Song | Audio |
---|---|---|
Main Title
|
"The Skye Boat Song" (feat. Raya Yarbrough) | |
Adapted by Bear McCreary from the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. | ||
201
|
"Se mai riviene, D Minor" by the Count of St. Germain, arr. Bear McCreary | Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Wrath of the Comte") |
The Comte St. Germain threatens the Frasers; end credits. | ||
202
|
"Passacaille" from Armide by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Into Paris") |
Claire prepares to leave for the day; at Versailles, Claire finds out that Jack Randall is alive; end credits. | ||
"Cam Ye O'er Frae France?" arr. Bear McCreary | ||
Jamie and Murtagh attend Charles Stuart at Maison de Madame Elise. | ||
"Ouverture de l'Opera d'Alcide" by Marin Marais, arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Honey Pot") | |
Louise de La Tour has her body waxed while she introduces Claire to Mary Hawkins | ||
"Prelude (Marche en rondeau)" from Te Deum by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Versailles") | |
The Frasers mingle with other guests at the Palace of Versailles. | ||
203
|
"Passacaille" from Armide by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Into Paris") |
Claire awakens to find Jamie just returning from his night spent with Charles Stuart. | ||
"Marche des Combattants" from Alceste by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arr. Bear McCreary |
||
Claire finds Suzette in bed with Murtagh. | ||
"Chaconne" from Dardanus by Jean-Philippe Rameau, arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Baroque Chess Match") | |
Jamie plays chess with Joseph Duverney. | ||
"Aria" from Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Bear McCreary |
||
Mother Hildegarde demonstrates the music used in the cipher. | ||
206
|
"Muzette and Double" from Pièces de Viole, Livre IV by Marin Marais, arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "The Duel") |
Claire takes a carriage to the Bois de Bologne, but arrives too late to stop Jamie's duel with Jack Randall. | ||
208
|
"Moch sa Mhadainn 's Mi Dùsgadh"[5] | Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "The Uprising Begins") |
Lord Lovat shows up with Fraser men to add to the Prince's ranks. | ||
209
|
"An Fhìdeag Airgid" (feat. Griogair Labhruidh) | Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Je Suis Prest (feat. Griogair Labhruidh)" |
Morning camp activity picks up; the MacKenzies return. | ||
"Moch sa Mhadainn 's Mi Dùsgadh"[5] (feat. Griogair Labhruidh) Poem by Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, arr. Bear McCreary |
Outlander: Season 2 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Moch Sa Mhadainn (feat. Griogair Labhruidh)") | |
The Jacobites run drills over several days; finally they march to join Charles Stuart's forces. | ||
210
|
"Down Among the Dead Men" (traditional) | |
Rupert and Ross sing drunkenly, earning a somber cheer from their audience. |
Season Three[]
Episode | Song | Audio |
---|---|---|
Main Title
|
"The Skye Boat Song" (feat. Raya Yarbrough) | |
Adapted by Bear McCreary from the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. | ||
304
|
"A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan (Performed by Walk off the Earth) |
|
Jamie leaves Helwater and his son William behind; Claire and Brianna return to Boston, leaving behind Roger and their search for Jamie. |
Season Four[]
Episode | Song | Audio |
---|---|---|
Main Title
|
"The Skye Boat Song" (feat. Raya Yarbrough) | |
Adapted by Bear McCreary from the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. | ||
401
|
"America the Beautiful" by Katharine Lee Bates (Performed by Ray Charles) |
|
Stephen Bonnet and his men attack the Frasers on their riverboat, stealing their gemstones and one of Claire's wedding rings, and killing Lesley. | ||
412
|
Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber | |
Roger decides to help the priest in the only way he can – by hastening his death. Roger and the Mohawk are horrified by the unintended consequences. |
Season Five[]
Episode | Song | Audio |
---|---|---|
Main Title
|
"The Skye Boat Song" (feat. Raya Yarbrough) | Outlander: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Outlander – The Skye Boat Song (Choral Version) [feat. Raya Yarbrough]") |
Adapted by Bear McCreary from the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. | ||
501
|
"Macpherson's Farewell"[6][7] | Outlander: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Murtagh's Oath") |
Murtagh swears his loyalty to a young Jamie shortly after Ellen has died. | ||
"L-O-V-E" by Bert Kaempfert (music) and Milt Gabler (lyrics)
(arr. Bear McCreary, performed by Richard Rankin) |
Outlander: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "L-O-V-E (feat. Richard Rankin)") | |
Roger sings to Brianna on their wedding night; montage of various couples. | ||
"Moch sa Mhadainn 's Mi Dùsgadh"[5] | Outlander: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "The Fiery Cross (feat. Griogair Labhruidh)") | |
Jamie puts on his kilt and plaid for the first time in years, and gathers the men of the Ridge in a call to arms. | ||
502
|
"Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night (written by Hoyt Axton)
(Performed by Richard Rankin) |
|
Roger sings to Jemmy. | ||
504
|
"Highland Laddie" (traditional)
(Performed by Richard Rankin) |
|
Roger sings outside the Brownsville tavern. | ||
507
|
"Oh My Darling, Clementine" credited to Percy Montrose
(arr. Bear McCreary, performed by Richard Rankin) |
|
Roger sings to Jemmy before leaving for the battle. | ||
508
|
"Oh My Darling, Clementine" credited to Percy Montrose
(arr. Bear McCreary, performed by Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin) |
Outlander: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Clementine (feat. Richard Rankin and Sophie Skelton)") |
Brianna sings to Jemmy, and Roger feels again the devastating loss of his voice. Duet version sung by Richard Rankin and Sophie Skelton during the end credits. | ||
512
|
"The Skye Boat Song" (feat. Raya Yarbrough) | Outlander: Season 5 (Original Television Soundtrack) (as "Outlander – The Skye Boat Song (Solo Vocal Version) [feat. Raya Yarbrough]") |
Adapted by Bear McCreary from the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. |
Bear McCreary's Blog Posts[]
After the episodes have aired on television, Bear McCreary regularly publishes blog posts explaining choices for the score.
Season 1[]
- Outlander: Sassenach
- Outlander: Castle Leoch
- Outlander: The Way Out, The Gathering and Rent
- Outlander: The Garrison Commander, The Wedding, Both Sides Now
- Outlander: The Reckoning
- Outlander: By the Pricking of My Thumbs & The Devil’s Mark
- Outlander: Lallybroch, The Watch & The Search
- Outlander: Wentworth Prison & To Ransom a Man’s Soul
- Outlander Soundtrack Volume II
Season 2[]
- Outlander: Season 2 Begins
- Outlander: In Paris
- Outlander: Return to Scotland
- Outlander Season 2 Soundtrack
Seasons 3-5[]
- Outlander: Season 3 – After Culloden
- Outlander: Season 3 – The Caribbean
- Outlander: Season 4
- Outlander: Season 5
References[]
- ↑ "Duan na Muthairn (Rune of the Muthairn)": Invocations. Carmina Gadelica, via The Internet Archive. Accessed 17 April 2015.
- ↑ Bonny Moorhen – Mainly Norfolk: English Folk and Other Good Music. Accessed 23 May 2015.
- ↑ The Reels o Bogie – adapted by Scotstext from the anglicized version. Accessed 24 May 2015.
- ↑ Merry muses of Caledonia edited by James Barke and Sydney Goodsir Smith. Indicates "The Reels o' Bogie" was collected by Burns. Accessed 24 May 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Alternate titles include "Hùg Ò Làithill Ò" and "Òran Eile don Phrionnsa". See Tobar an Dualchais for more information about the song, and Lochiel.net for Gaelic lyrics and English translation.
- ↑ Outlander: Season 5 – Bear McCreary Official Site. Accessed 19 May 2020.
- ↑ The Book of Scottish Song/Macpherson's Farewell via Wikisource. Accessed 19 May 2020.