Outlander fans are eagerly awaiting any news, especially after the season seven finale ended with a shocking twist suggesting Faith Fraser was alive. There were several hints that Jamie Fraser (played by Sam Heughan) and Claire’s (Caitríona Balfe) baby survived after apparently being stillborn in season two, including the repetition of the song I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside.
Claire sang this melody to Faith in the heart-wrenching episode Faith from season two, and Fanny Pocock (Florrie May Wilkinson) also performed her own version in the season seven finale. While the song clearly hints at Faith’s survival, there’s a more sorrowful reason why the show’s writers chose this song, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
In a previous Official Outlander Podcast, writer Toni Graphia revealed: “I wanted Claire singing to the baby too, because don’t forget, Claire lost her own mother when she was five and the only thing she remembers is her mother singing to her, and really that’s all she has to give that baby before she lost her forever. Her mum singing the song.”
Graphia looked for songs from Claire’s mother Julia Moriston’s (Hermione Corfield) era and stumbled upon the track I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside.
Claire could only sing to Faith before the baby was taken away (Image: STARZ)
“I found that song and I wanted it to be a whimsical, fun song as opposed to a sad song because that would play against it and be even sadder,” she explained.
The classic British music hall song, I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside, penned in 1907 by John H. Glover-Kind, has been praised by executive producer Ronald D. Moore.
“I love that song. It was a great choice,” he said, commending Graphia’s script as “deep” and “grasped the essence” of Outlander.
Claire Fraser sang to baby Faith as her own mother had sung to her (Image: STARZ)
The song is expected to feature again in the upcoming prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, due to hit screens this summer. While Starz has not yet confirmed a specific premiere date, the show promises to delve into the backgrounds of Jamie and Claire’s parents, with numerous callbacks.
The series also aims to shed light on the mystery surrounding Claire’s parents’ death, their potential time-travelling abilities, and whether her guardian Uncle Lamb (Prentis Hancock) shared these powers. Fans may even see Julia serenading a baby Claire with the tune, tying in seamlessly with the parent series, Outlander.
Outlander is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now
