Outlander’s theme song, The Skye Boat Song, is a traditional Celtic song that details the journey of Bonnie Prince Charlie. However, for the purposes of the show, Outlander’s creators used the lyrics of Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem ‘Sing Me a Song of a Lad That Is Gone’ in order to be more applicable to the plot. This alteration and reinvention of the traditional song and poem craft a captivating theme song for the STARZ television drama. Without The Skye Boat Song to whisk viewers way into the historical fantasy, it can be argued that the audience’s suspension of disbelief would not be as fully-founded.
The producers of Outlander recognize this important musical addition to the television series and work to surprise the audience at the start of each season premiere. Each newly-crafted version of the Skye Boat Song is updated every season to keep in-line with the show’s evolving settings and plotlines. That being said, not every season’s edition is something to write home about.
5 Season 3
Resting in fifth place among the over theme song versions, season 3’s iteration falls flat in comparison to its siblings. Season 3 focuses on Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) return to her original time with Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies), while Jamie (Sam Heughan) seeks to find meaning post-rebellion. Seeing as Claire has now traveled to America with Frank and is raising Jamie’s baby without the red-headed Scot, it makes sense that the show’s producers removed the Scottish bagpipes from the theme song.
However, the vacuum left by the Scottish bagpipes leaves the song feeling void and lifeless. In keeping with the emotional theme of the season, this version of Outlander‘s theme songs sounds as if it is missing something. That’s not to say that this season’s theme is poorly constructed, because it accomplishes the task before it by honoring and savoring the longing feeling of the season. Both main characters are attempting to live their lives without one another, but something inside them clings to what once was. This feeling is recognized within the theme. However, it lacks the musical sustenance that viewers received in the preceding seasons’ theme songs. Without such melodic instruments, The Skye Boat Song of Outlander’s season 3 pales in comparison to the other seasons’ renditions.
4 Season 4
Season 4’s theme song begins to incorporate folk tunes alongside Raya Yarbrough’s voice, by incorporating colonial-based instruments and notes.
In the second verse, this rendition of The Skye Boat Song shifts into a small chorus of folk singing. This marks a transitional element to Outlander‘s season 4 plotline, as the Frasers move from the old world to build a life in the New World. In this season, the theme song’s sound hints at the building of a new life with the support of many people. Though this season’s chorus is small, their voices are hearty. Perhaps these are the voices of the colonists settling in Fraser’s Ridge.
This theme is similar to season 2’s because of the transitional shift. However, unlike season 2, the song does not shift back into a single voice. It remains a chorus until the end with Yarbrough’s voice remaining noticeable and present. This marks a clear difference in the song compared to its preceding seasons.
3 Season 5
Following season 4, the fifth season’s opening is a full chorus and devoid of instruments aside from the singing voices. This is the most dramatic shift from the original theme song and it’s a welcome change given the drastically new setting. The chorus is a remarkably moving touch, though unfortunately Yarbrough’s voice cannot be distinguished among them.
Lacking bagpipes, melodic singing, and drums, this is a completely new theme song with remnants of season 4’s chorus being used as a foundation for the piece. This is exceedingly metaphorical, given that the Frasers’ experience in America is about building a community and developing a new lifestyle, rather than depending on their ancestral culture to distinguish them. While this is a powerful transition, it could have been improved by incorporating more touches of folk-based instruments as seen in the season 4 theme song.
2 Season 2
Season 2’s theme song was the first to deviate from season 1, and it did so with such finesse that viewers’ jaws dropped and their hearts fluttered with the incorporation of cello notes. The second verse of the song transitions into French before ending back in English for the last line. This lyrical shift is one of the most subtle components of foreshadowing in this country-traveling, time-traveling show. This edition of the Skye Boat Song informs viewers through the language of the lyrics that not only will the Frasers travel to France in hopes of changing history, they will also end the season back in Scotland.
This iteration of the song ranks in second place due to its transformative nature. Since this theme was the first to adapt to the new Parisian setting, it set the bar high for the themes to come after season 2.
1 Season 1
The original version of “The Skye Boat Song” composed by Bear McCreary and sung by Raya Yarbrough is the most iconic version of Outlander’s theme song. The show’s viewers were first introduced to this in Outlander’s premiere episode. It transported audiences from 2015 back 200 years to 1700’s Scotland. In this premiere theme song, traditional components of Celtic music were incorporated to fully immerse audiences into this fantastical show. Season 1’s theme song was a pivotal component of the pilot episode and emerged as a much-needed introduction to the literary-based narrative. This version of the theme song should make Diana Gabaldon, author of the book series hat inspired the STARZ television drama, proud.
Filled with bagpipes, drums, and Yarbrough’s melodic voice, this theme song will forever hold a special place in viewers’ hearts as the original tune that brought the world of Outlander to life on television screens everywhere.
