Who sings the new Outlander theme tune and is the time-traveling historical drama on tonight?

The new Outlander theme tune signals the return of Claire and Jamie’s time-defying romance to our screens and there have been a few major changes.

Though Outlander wasn’t based on a true story, author Diana Gabaldon enriched her Outlander book series with plenty of historical detail that served as the basis for the Starz show. Starring Caitriona Balfe as Claire, a married war-time nurse who traveled back in time to 18th century Scotland, and Sam Heughan as Jamie, her seriously handsome new husband, the mix of time-travel, shocking real events and fictionalized drama have drawn fans back again and again.

For historical fiction fans who loved The Gilded Age and is eagerly wondering which The Last Kingdom cast members could star in the new movie, Outlander is one to watch this spring. And from the opening credits alone, it was clear that Outlander season 6 was set to be very special.

But who sings the new Outlander theme tune and is the hit historical drama on tonight? 

Who sings the new Outlander theme tune?

There’s nothing quite like an instantly recognizable theme tune to build anticipation for the episode ahead, but unlike the likes of Shetland series 6 or The Last Kingdom, with Outlander the opening credits have often seen a subtle shift in their choice of music. Although newcomers to the long-running adaptation might not have noticed, each Outlander theme tune has differed slightly season by season.

However for everyone wondering who sings the new Outlander theme tune, the vocalist is understood to have remained the same throughout all but season 5, where a full choir of singers were featured. The major change for Outlander season 6 is that the theme tune’s original singer Raya Yarborough is joined on the track by a new male vocalist. 

According to Screenrant.com, it’s Griogair Labhruidh who reportedly sings the new Outlander theme tune ahead of Raya, before the two go on to duet. Outlander season 6’s theme also sees another shocking twist as the lyrics have been tweaked to reflect the huge shift occurring in the latest instalment’s timeline. Not only that, but it could also give loyal fans an intriguing hint about what’s to come for Claire and Jamie…

The Outlander theme tune was composed by Bear McCreary, Raya's husband and a musical star who’s worked on everything from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D to The Walking Dead. But he didn’t invent the lyrics himself and instead cleverly adapted both the old and new Outlander theme tune from a traditional Scottish folk song. 

Entitled The Skye Boat Song, the Outlander theme tune tells the tale of the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie, a claimant to the British throne, to the Isle of Skye by boat after the disastrous Battle of Culloden which the show's protagonist Jamie survived. The original lyrics to the 19th century song were written by Sir Harold Boulton, though Treasure Island writer Robert Louis Stevenson later adapted them to create his own version.  

The old Outlander theme tunes changed the lyrics slightly, opting for female pronouns in the earlier seasons to reflect the focus on Claire’s journey in the story.

“Sing me a song of a lass that is gone / Say, could that lass be I? / Merry of soul she sailed on a day / Over the sea to Skye,” the Outlander song goes. Though in the season 6 opening credits, this reverts to the original ‘lad’ and ‘he’ before later moving back to the female pronouns. 

Now it seems like the Outlander theme tune could possibly be hinting via this switch-up that Jamie or his and Claire's son-in-law Roger could become the characters who will undergo the biggest changes and become more prominent in season 6.

And as fans of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander book series will already know, things are likely to get a whole lot more intense before they get easier for the Fraser family as they continue to make their home on Fraser's Ridge, North Carolina.

Either way, for long-term fans of the historical drama, the traditional lyrics and haunting vocal style of the theme tune is sure to take them on their very own journey back in time as they continue to enjoy the romance and battles as the American Revolutionary War looms closer.

Is Outlander on tonight and how to watch?

Sadly Outlander season 6 isn't on tonight, but fans won't have to wait long to see Claire and Jamie's journey continue. Outlander season 6 premiered in the US on March 6, 2022 on the premium cable and satellite network Starz, with episodes available to watch weekly at 9pm ET/PT on Sundays for Starz subscribers. US-based viewers can also catch up on Outlander seasons 1-4 on Netflix to watch Claire and Jamie's love story from the very begjnning. 

Meanwhile, anyone living in the UK who’s yet to dive into the epic highs and lows of Outlander season 6 can also enjoy the hit period drama via StarzPlay UK. This channel is available via Amazon Channels and requires a subscription to Amazon Prime.  

But if you’re on holiday abroad and can't watch Outlander thanks to regional restrictions, luckily there’s an easy solution and you can use a VPN to continue watching this hit drama. This is a handy bit of software that changes your IP address so that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.

Our sister site, TechRadar, has tested all of the major VPN services and they rate ExpressVPN as the absolute best. They say, “It’s compatible with all of your devices, supports most streaming services, and ranks among the fastest. You can even install it on devices like an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, and PlayStation. So for a one-stop-shop, you can’t go wrong with Express.”

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Ranked among one of the fastest VPN providers, this risk-free service is also compatible with all of your devices. Enjoy access to almost any streaming service, and if you don't like it there's a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you've never installed a VPN before, don't worry, it's quick and easy. Just follow these three steps:

1. Download and install the VPN following ExpressVPN's easy-to-follow instructions.
2. Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the US.
3. With your VPN installed and server location set to US, you can now watch Outlander online. 

Now fans know the fascinating history and vocalists behind the new Outlander theme tune, the opening credits will now be all the more entrancing. And as book readers excitedly anticipate how the Starz show might bring Diana Gabaldon's storylines to life in the remainder of season 6, one thing's clear! 

With the American Revolutionary War looming on the horizon, Claire, Jamie, their daughter Brianna and Roger have their work cut out if they're to make it through the coming conflict. After all, with three time-travellers in the family, they know better than anyone exactly what's heading their way...