Only a handful of opening themes have become as synonymous with a series as The Skye Boat Song has with Outlander. The surreal tunes of the song are composed by Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary and sung by his wife (Raya Yarbrough) in the initial seasons.Adapted from Diana Gabaldon's series of books, Starz's fantasy romance series follows Jamie and Claire's epic love story in 18th-century Scotland, which transcends time and history.'The Skye Boat Song' is the official theme song of the series, which opens each beautiful chapter. The folk song carries a unique tune that mimics Claire's time-traveling journey, while binding it to an important figure in Scottish history. Outlander's theme song acts as a bridge between fact and fiction and carries its female heroine's voice that ties the show to Scotland’s soul. The beautiful use of bagpipes and fiddles marks an unmistakable honor to Scottish music and the Highlanders' way of living.More on this in our story.Outlander theme song: Exploring the history behind 'The Skye Boat Song' View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe roots of Outlander's theme song trace back to William Ross' Gaelic song Cuachag nan Craobh ("Cuckoo of the Tree"). The lyrics of this 1782 song follow a dejected one-sided lover, who is lamenting his beloved's (Lady Marion Ross) rejection to a cuckoo. The song was eventually adapted by Sir Harold Boulton in the late 19th century into a Scottish song (titled The Skye Boat Song) that narrates Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape to the Isle of Skye after his defeat in the Battle of Culloden.Alternate lyrics were added by author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1885 and were eventually tweaked by composer McCreary for Outlander.This additional verse eventually became the lyrics for Outlander's theme song, with a little tweak in the gender (lad becomes lass). Bear McCreary felt that Bonnie Prince Charlie's journey mimicked Claire's adventure across time, making it a befitting theme song for the series:“These lyrics are much better suited to Claire’s story, and after we altered a few consonants to change the gender of the speaker, they connected even more directly.'''The Skye Boat Song': Exploring Claire's connection with Bonnie Prince Charlie View this post on Instagram Instagram Post'The Skye Boat Song' narrates Bonnie Prince Charlie's journey who appears as a character in the Starz series. The Jacobite Rebellion was initiated because the native Scots wanted to see a Catholic king on the Scottish throne. After Prince Charles' defeat in the Battle of Culloden, he escaped to the Isle of Skye. This incident also appears in Season 1 when Claire learns about the simmering rebellion and Dougal MacKenzie's support for the cause.Outlander's 'The Skye Boat Song' symbolises its female heroine's journey through time, much like Prince Charles' journey to the Isle of Skye. It is a lyrical and haunting piece of music that elevates Claire's fantastical adventure.In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, McCreary reflected on his musical journey for the show as:“Over the last decade, crafting the musical journey of Outlander has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my creative life. “[It began] with my wife, Raya Yarbrough, [who] sang the first recording of ‘The Skye Boat Song’… Fans have heard haunting vocals, lively Celtic instruments, and soaring symphonic orchestral gestures merge to tell Claire and Jamie’s story.”The fantasy series will return with its final and eighth season on Starz on March 7.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.