"The Skye Boat Song"

"The Skye Boat Song" was a tune that the Second Doctor played on his recorder near the conclusion of the London Event. It was in part a diversion to prevent Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart from overhearing his discussion with Jamie McCrimmon on the Piccadilly Circus tube station platform. (TV: The Web of Fear)

After getting access to the TARDIS years later, the Spy Master produced the Second Doctor's recorder and proceeded to play the same tune. (TV: The Power of the Doctor)

Behind the scenes

The song as played on bagpipes.

The tune played by the Second Doctor in The Web of Fear, and the Spy Master in The Power of the Doctor, is "The Skye Boat Song", a nineteenth century Scottish folk song. However, the song is never referred to by name in either story. By the time the tune made a re-appearance in "The Power of the Doctor", it had become known as the theme song from the television series Outlander.

External links

• BBC Radio 4 exploration of "The Skye Boat Song", available globally on demand