Kelvin Haugh (The Sailor and the Maid)

As I walked out on one summer's morning
To view the fields on Kelvin Haugh
It was there I met wi a fair young lassie
She had cheeks like roses and skin like snaw

O lassie lassie do you remember
The ships that sailed by the (?)-law
And the sailor laddies wha aa got tipsy
Wi the bleacher lassies on Kelvin Haugh

O lassie lassie if ye'll gang wi me
I'll dress ye up in fine satins braw
O no kind sir I can not gae wi ye
I've a lad o my ain though he's far awa

Tis seven long years since he gaed and left me
Tis seven long years since he sailed awa
But another seven I will wait upon him
And bleach my claithes here on Kelvin Haugh

O lassie lassie, ye hae been faithfu
And thoucht on me when I'm far awa
True love shall surely be rewarded
We'll part nae mair noo on Kelvin Haugh

This couple noo they hae got married
And they keep an alehoose atween them twa
And the sailor laddies aye come a-drinkin
Wi the bleacher lassies on Kelvin Haugh

Johnny's Got His Jean o

O lass gin ye would think it richt
To meet wi me this very nicht
We'' cuddle till the mornin licht
By all the (?) unseen o

And ye sall be my dearie
My ain dearest dearie
Ye sall be my dearie
(?) ye meet me at (?)

I canna for my mommy gaes
She locks the door and keeps the key
And in the morn she charges me
And aye aboot the men o

She says they're all deceivers
Deceivers, deceivers
She says they're all deceivers
We canna trust a ane o

O never mind yer mammy's yell
Nae doubt she met yer dad hersel
And when she flites ye can her tell
Tis often done the same o

So lassie gies yer hand on't
Yer bonnie milkwhite hand on't
Lassie gies yer hand on't
And scorn tae lie yer lane o

O lad ma hand I canna gie
But aiblins I may steal the key
And meet ye at the (?) tree
That grows upon the plain o

But dinna (?) laddie
I canna promise laddie
O dinna (?) laddie
For fear I canna wend o

But he's gane tae the (?) tree
In hopes his true love there to see
And wha came troopin oer the lea
But just his bonnie Jean o

And she sat doon beside him
Beside him, beside him
She sat doo beside him
Upon the grass sae green o

I'm overjoyed wi rapture noo
Cried he and pried her cherry moo
And Jeannie neer had cause tae rue
That nicht upon the plain o

For she has got her Johnny
Her sweet and lovin Johnny
She has got her Johnny
And Johnny's got his Jean o

The Bobby and the Maid

Now I'll tell you a story that happened one day
On the high Galtee mountains so far far away
Twas of a fair maiden her age was eighteen
And she carried those colors white yellow and green

Now a bold English bobby one day passed the way
He spied the young maid with her colors so gay
With a frown on his face he jumped from his machine
He's determined to capture the flag of Sinn Fein

O come give me those colors the bold bobby cried
Come give me those colors, you'll do what is right
If you give me those colors I'll do nothing mean
If you give me those colors white yellow and green

I won't give you those colors, the bold maiden cried
Till your blood and my blood resembles the dye
I'm not afraid of your rifle so that's nothing mean
For I'll die for those colors white yellow and green

Now the bold bobby's face grew as white as the snow
And bidding good evening he quickly did go
For what was the use when a maid of eighteen
Said she'd die for those colors white yellow and green?

So it's up DeValera, Republic as well
Independence for Ireland, send Free State to hell
The release of your prisoners are plain to be seen
And the fair maiden's banner white yellow and green

The Banks of the Lee

O when two lovers meet down beneath the green bower
When two lovers meet down beneath the green tree
O Mary lovely Mary declared unto her lover
You have stolen my poor heart on the banks of the Lee

Refrain:
Every bush and every bower, every wild Irish flower
Will remind me of my Mary on the banks of the Lee

O don't stay out too late on the moorlands, my Mary
Don't stay out too late on the moorlands from me
O but little was her notion as they parted on the ocean
She was (?) forever on the banks of the Lee

(Refrain)

I will pluck for her some roses, some blooming Irish roses
I will pluck for her some roses, the fairest ever grew
And I'll place them on the grave of my true lover Mary
In that silent little churchyard where she sleeps beneath the dew

(Refrain)

The Twa Brothers

O two pretty boys were a-goin to the school
And one evening comin home
O said William to John, Can you throw a stone
Or can you play at a ball, a ball
Or can you play at a ball?

O said William to John, I cannot throw a stone
Nor little can I play at a ball
But if you come to yon merry green wood
I'll try you a wrestling fall, fall
I'll try you a wrestling fall

So when they came to yon merry green wood
Beneath the spreading moon
The little penknife slipped out of William's pocket
Which give John his deadly wound, wound
Which give John his deadly wound

O you'll take off your white holland shirt
And you'll tear it from gore to gore
And you shall bind my deadly wounds
And they shall blood no more, no more
And they shall blood no more

So he took off his white holland shirt
And he tore it from gore to gore
And he did bind his deadly wounds
But they bled ten times more and more
O they bled ten times more

What will I tell to your father dear
This night when I go home?
You can tell him I'm away to a London school
And the good scholar I'll come home, home
And the good scholar I'll come home

And what will I tell to your sister dear
This night when I go home?
You can tell her I'm away to a London school
And the good books I'll bring home, home
And the good books I'll bring home

But what will I tell to your sweetheart dear
This night when I go home?
You can tell her I'm dead and in grave laid
And the grass is growing green, green
And the grass is growing green

And what will I tell to your stepmother dear
This night when I go home?
You can tell her I'm dead and in grave laid
For she prayed I might never come home, home
She prayed I might never come home

Meg Drummond

The king had's court at Holyrood
(?) ha'
Of aa the dancers gathered there
Meg Drummond shine maist braw

O the finest goud her lang lang hair
Her waist twa hands micht span
And gladsome gladsome is her heart
for Jamie is her man

The grey Scots lairds stand roon the king
(?) the king to wed
But it isnae Meg of the gouden hair
They choose to share his bed

The English princess (?) is fair
A marriage there would lead
To English goud, to English gear,
Would serve the country's need

(?) was Jamie by their words
(?) by nicht and day
But he thoucht on Meg o the gouden hair
And aye would answer Nay

Ah Drummond's woods are fine and fair
And Drummond's fields grow green
Oft in springtime would they walk
The bonnie birks atween

Oft upon a mossy bank
Sat they the day awa
And loud the bonnie groves would ring
Wi lauchter o the twa

Ah summer days are lang and licht
And summer days are warm
Little little did she think
Her love micht dae her harm

Summer days are lang and licht
In the merry month o june
Little little did she think
Her day would end sae soon

Meg rid up tae Edinburgh
A tourney for tae see
For weel she kent her Jamie love
The foremost there would be

As Meg rid doon the Cannongate
Toun bells for joy did ring
And tounsfolk cried There goes a bride
Weel fit for ony king

And when she cam tae the king's ha door
And curtsied doon fu low
Wi at her back her sisters twa
They made a bonny show

The king made haste tae raise her up
Fu gladly did her greet
There's nae a lass in aa my land
Wha's kisses are sae sweet

The grey Scots lairds did glump and glower
Grimly they did see
For weel they kent that happy hour
Their ruin soon micht be

The king has dighted wi the lass
Her een ha him beguiled
Our plans willna be (?)
Gin she grow great wi child

Ha ha it only taks but yae sip
But yae sip o the wine
It only taks but yae sip
Yae sip (?)

The (?)
To bed the king doth cry
And he himsel has lichted her
To her chammer door sae high

O had they but looked up, looked up
To the chimney-top above
A raven sat wi glossy wing
Wha neer did caw nor move

Gladly gladly raised the king
At the dawn o the day
But Meg and her sisters neer raise up
Lay stiff and cauld as clay

Nae court did speir what way their death
Whether sickness or poison dreid
Tae Dunblane Kirk at deid o nicht
Their corpses cam wi speed

Aya and Jamie married southern Meg
Nine years wi her lay he
But aye he thoucht o his other Meg
Meg o the lauchin ee

And when on Flodden's fatal field
The king lay wounded sair
A sma voice cam on the whistlin wind
Come, love, we'll part nae mair

Aye, Drummond's woods are fine and fair
And Drummond's fields grow green
There's some folk say they still do walk
The bonny birks atween

Haymarshal and Lord Elgin

Haymarshal was a gentleman
As ever lived on earth
He's married Rosie Anderson
A lady intil Perth o
A lady intil Perth

He's courted her, he's married her
Made her his wedded wife
And on that day I dare to say
He loved her as his life o
He loved her as his life

There was an assembly intil Perth
And Rosie she was there
Lord Elgin danced with her that night
And did her heart ensnare o
And did her heart ensnare

Lord Elgin danced with her that night
And he's conveyed her home
Haymarshal he came rushing in
Before he set her down o
Before he set her down

I'm all in to surprise, he said
I'm all in to surprise
To see you kiss my wedded wife
Before my very eyes o
Before my very eyes

I did not kiss your wedded wife,
Lord Elgin he did say
I only brought her home to you
From the dangers of the way o
From the dangers of the way

He's ta'en his Rosie by the hand
And ta'en her from the room
I'll send you to far London
Till all this strife dies down o
Till all this strife dies down

Although you be a lord, he said
And I but a provost's son
I'll make you smart for this, my lord
Although you think it fun o
Although you think it fun

She had not been in far London
A month but barely nine
That word came to Haymarshal
That Rosie had a son o
That Rosie had a son

O wae be tae you, Rose sae red
That ever I loved you
What made you leave your own true love
To tread the beds of rue o
To tread the beds of rue?

My meat I cannot eat, he said
My clothes I cannot wear
For thinkin on my Rosie
That once I loved so dear o
That once I loved so dear

Haymarshal's down to far London
With money in his purse
To try and find some witnesses
His Rosie to divorce o
His Rosie to divorce

Haymarshal's twenty witnesses
And Rosie has but two
Alas, said Rosie Anderson
Whatever shall I do o
Whatever shall I do?

The spring is coming on, she said
The regiments are near
Perhaps I'll find some officer
My broken heart to cheer o
My broken heart to cheer

Haymarshal was a gentleman
As ever lived on earth
He's married Rosie Anderson
A lady intil Perth o
A lady intil Perth

My Bonny Wee Irish Boy

It was in Londonderry in that city o note and fame
That first my bonny wee Irish boy a-courtin me he came
He told me pleasant stories and said his bride I'd be
But the face o my bonny wee Irish boy I'm afraid I neer will see

So I booked my passage to New York and in it there I have been
But the face o my bonny wee Irish boy is nowhere to be seen
I've searched New York and Boston, I've searched them oer and oer
But the face o my bonny wee Irish boy I'm afraid I will see no more

Last night as I lay sleepin sure I dreamt I was his bride
And that we sat on a bluebell hill as we sat side by side
Gathering up primroses as we did in the days of yore
But I woke quite brokenhearted in the city of Baltimore

But early the next mornin a knock came to my door
And I knew it was my own true love, the boy that I adore
So hastening up to let him in, my heart neer felt more joy
For I fell into the arms o my bonny wee Irish boy

So now that we are married he's goin no more to sea
I own I love him dearly and I know that he loves me
His first wee son was called for him, his heart's delight and joy
He's the picture of his daddy, he's my bonny wee Irish boy

The Keyhole of the Door

O we all had left the parlor and the clock had scarce struck nine
By a lucky chance of fortune sure her room was next to mine
I resolved like bold Columbus new regions to explore
So I took up my position by the keyhole of the door

O I knelt down so silently upon my bended knee
And I waited there so patiently to see what I could see
She first took off her knickers, they fell upon the floor
And by God I saw her pick them up through the keyhole of the door

This pretty maid proceeded then taking off her lovely dress
Likewise her underclothing, there were fifty more or less
But to tell the truth sincerely, I'm sure there was a score
But I couldn't count correctly through the keyhole of the door

O she climbed up on the sofa with such a graceful ease
She raised her snowwhite linens above her lovely knees
And a pair of skyblue garters upon her leg she wore
She made a glorious picture through the keyhole of the door

She then went to the fireside her lovely feet to warm
With nothing but her chemise on to hide her graceful form
O! pray take off that garment, I ask for nothing more
And by God I saw her take it off through the keyhole of the door

O this pretty maid proceeded then going to her lovely bed
And the light it was extinguished and darkness ruled instead
So I went to my own room being not so far away
And there I slept quite soundly until the break of day
But in the mornin when I got up my geordie was so sore
I thought that I'd been doing it through the keyhole of the door

So come all you men of science, don't strain your eager eyes
Nor search in foreign climates nor faroff distant skies
For nature has more beauty than any foreign shore
For a telescope was nothing to the keyhole of the door

The Duck

O come all ye drinkers who're assembled here
To my sad demise I pray you drop a tear
I was a duck was aye douce demure
I never thoucht a thoucht that was impure

As I went a-waddling oot ane summer's day
It being in the merry month of May
I met a drake he was just flying by
And glad was I that he gave me the eye

O duck my darling O my speckled fair
Come fly with me on high and take the air
O be my own my lovey duck, he begs
And let me a father be to all your eggs

With gladsome heart we two flew high in air
I followed him so far I know not where
He showed to me where we would build our nest
But first for him I'd have to pass a test

O how his words they sair disturbĖd me
I had no notion what that test might be
He louped on me, was nearly in set to
When cam a huntsman wha our sport did view

Cursed be his eye that upon us lopped
And cursĖd be his hand that the shotgun copped
And cursed be that shotgun that it did not fail
But peppered both of us richt up the tail

In prime of our youth there we did expire
Never to know the peak of love's desire
And we were even the more dischuffed
For we were not only killed but also stuffed

Noo aa ye who frolic in the open air
Always look round ye with the greatest care
And always of huntsmen have the greatest fear
Or you too may end like me on display here

And that is an outcome that you sure would rue
And I'm not so sure that you'd enhance the view
Still always from huntsmen keep ye aye far free
And always contribute to RSPBO

Mither Mither

O mither mither what can a lassie dae
If I'm courted by a fiddler in the merry month o May?
He'll touch me wi his bow and mak ma strings tae play
And I'm feart I may rue it in the mornin o

O lassie lassie ye'll need tae learn the tune
O a slow air in April tae dance a jig in June
And if ye pay attention tae the manage o yer goun
Ye'll never hae tae rue it in the mornin o

O mither mither what can a lassie dae
If he plays his pennywhistle in the merry month o May?
He has the finest stops upon ma stops tae play
And I'm feart I may rue it in the mornin o

O lassie lassie ye'll need tae learn the air
And then you will discover that tae dance a reel is rare
Just place your steps aright and ye never need despair
Nor fear ye may rue it in the mornin o

O mither mither what can a lassie dae
If I'm courted by a piper in the merry month o May?
He has a broad chanter and his bag is never dry
And I'm feart I may rue it in the mornin o

O lassie lassie when ye hear him play the ground
Ye'll learn the variations that mak the pibroch sound
Ye'll forget about Kilbeag when Kilmore comes around
And never fear ye'll rue it in the mornin o

O mither mither what can a lassie dae
If he plays his concertina in the merry month o May?
Wi his reeds sae strong and free he'll squeeze tae mak me play
And I'm feart I may rue it in the mornin o

O lassie lassie ye'll need tae learn the keys
And then you will discover it can put you at your ease
For it's the very box o tricks a bonnie lass tae please
And never fear ye'll rue it in the mornin o

O mither mither yer words are wise I ken
And I will ever mind them in dealin wi the men
And when they play their music I'll dance baith bot and ben
And never fear I'll rue it in the mornin o

Those Ruddy Nylon Tights

It may be true we did rarely view
Who grew up in other times
That terra incognita
Above the girls' hemlines

But noo today I'm sad to say
When we're weel used to such sights
The boys noo hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

Marcus Antonius
On the bonny banks o Nile
Could walk wi Cleopatra
Aye weel afford tae smile

For he could say, Nought bars the way
Twixt me and my delights
He didnae hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

When they cam tae raid our shores
The Angle, Jute and Saxon
O one thing ye can all be sure
Girls would hae nae slacks on

And so for plunder or for rape
Naught damped their appetite
They didnae hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

Crusader Dick and aa his men
Let the women hame alane
Any man who didnae gang
Could scarcely stand the strain

The pickings there were easy
(?) busy were the knights
They didnae hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

When Mary Queen came ower frae France
(?) widow young and fair
Ony lad in Edinburgh toun
Had nae cause tae despair

Though silken hose she brought wi her
Tae add tae their delights
They didnae hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

When Charlie he came ower the march
And Flora's house was handy
Maid's petticoats and (?) gouns
(?) Charlie found just dandy

Though redcoats chased him ower the moors
Where the (?) bites
He didnae hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

When Bonie back frae Moscow came
After his (?) tour
As he went beltin up the stair
O one thing he was sure

Though he had travelled a guid few miles
Tae claim his marital rights
He wadnae hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

When Vicky frae the Abbey brought
Back hame a royal stud
(?) his duty
Albert proved he was nae dud

Wi (?)
(?) at nights
He didnae hae tae struggle
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

Ah but noo we come to the present day
O that's a different tale
Who wants to view the promised land
Through a twenty (?) veil?

But up there spoke a bold young man:
Away and fly your kites!
We boys are ruddy experts
Wi those ruddy nylon tights

Fire at Michael Colliery

In the wee sma hours of morning
There was sudden blazing death
Three hundred desperate miners
Ran and fought for breath

Refrain:
Fire at Michael Colliery
Black smoke underground
Six men dead in a pit of hell
And three who were not found

Though many reached the daylight
And drew in sweet frsh air
Eleven men were trapped below
And some were past all care

(Refrain)

A mile below the pithead
Jock MacArthur and his mate
Were struggling through the darkness
Though they feared it was too late

(Refrain)

Jock knew the roads a lifetime
Found a place where air was clear
They banged up on the rocks and heard
A rescue party near

(Refrain)

Down in the burning coalroads
Husbands and fathers died
The firemen could not master
The raging flames inside

(Refrain)

Dark was the billowing smoke cloud
Hanging oer shaft number two
But darker the miners' future
If there's no more work to do

(Refrain)

The Perthshire Volunteers

Noo in the bonny toun o Perth there's many a gay young lad
A hertbreak tae his mother, a sair trial tae his dad
Wha aye would chase the lassies aye and (?) them oer the inch
(?) in his bonny coat o red he'll mak those Frenchies flinch

As I went up the High Street I was keepin the toun frae harm
A lassie she came up tae me, she took me by the arm
--O Volunteer, please see me home, o the dark I am afeared
Afore she'd got to her mother's door she'd her fill o the Volunteers

Wheneer a man is hangit or is whippit through the toun
The (?) cry the Volunteers to stand the cart around
But lang (?) faces aye they cannot raise a cheer
Wheneer they think of what twill cost for all the pies and beer

Each year a man frae Edinburgh comes tae see us at our drill
The officers (?) they swallow many a chill
Will Thompson kicked up sich a fuss when he heard twas aa for free
Now every time that man comes round we all gae on the spree

Next mornin in the (?) we line up (?) parade
Ye'd think that we'd all spent the nicht a-paddlin in the (?)
The inspector (?) see sae weel, he peered at us and said,
Och, they're a fine upstandin band o men and surely must be paid

Each year tae Sterlin toun we go, maneuverin oer the plain
A lassie came up tae the sergeant, sayin, I'm glad ye're here again
Remember aa the hours we spent ahint yon stalks o grain
Noo ye can pay for yer pleasures and tak hame yer squallin wean

But if old Boney he should try tae land upon our soil
The lads o Perth will all be up, their blood fair on the boil
We'll gie those froggies sich a fricht they'd no forget for years
For wha is there wha can compare wi the Perthshire Volunteers?

(?) Hill

Last een at Lady Mary's Fair when I was in Dundee
I met (?) an old sweetheart and he bein on the spree
His company I did accept and wi him I did go
All to my sad misfortune for it proved my overthrow

We wandered east, we wandered west, we wandered roun the law
He said he'd see me hame that nicht but hame I never saw
He stayed aside me all the time resolved tae hae his will
And by and by we lost our way at the back o (?) Hill

When we cam tae (?) Hill my laddie said tae me
We can't go hame tonight, my dear, it's far oer late (?) see
But the nicht is warm and in my pouch I hae another gill
So let us lie doon here content at the back o (?) Hill

Then we had a nip apiece tae (?) alarms
When I awoke in the mornin we were (?) in each other's arms
He handed me the bottle then another glass tae fill
And I drank his health and store o wealth at the back o (?) Hill

Then my laddie said tae me, Dear lassie dinna mourn
For while I draw the breath o life frae you I'll never turn
So come wi me tae yonder toun my wedded wife tae be
And we'll be the happiest couple yet there is in aa Dundee

So it's may I never prosper and may I never thrive
(?) anything I tak in hand as long as I'm alive
If eer I say I rue the day my laddie had his will
Success to Lady Mary's Fair at the back o (?) Hill

The Hills of Donegal

O Donegal the pride of all, my heart still turns to thee
My native home where I used to roam when I was young and free
In other lands big houses grand but none compare at all
To my homestead bright on a winter's night in the hills of Donegal

Right well I mind twas in the harvest time on dark and dreary day
I left them all in Donegal to wander far away
Near Creeslough town my friends stood round, my friends and comrades all
And from the van sure I waved my hands to the hills of Donegal

And lookin back through (?) Gap to my own dear native hill
I thought no shame nor who to blame, twas there I cried my fill
My parents kind ran oer my mind, my friends and comrades all
And I thought my very heart would break for leaving Donegal

The Banks of the Foyle

O when I was a wee lad so young and so gay
I worked with a farmer for many's a day
I worked with a farmer whose home was the Moyle
Near that famed little city on the banks of the Foyle

O the place it was lonely for a wee lad like me
And many's an evening though happy I'd be
I'd stroll through the meadow where oft I did toil
Near that famed little city on the banks of the Foyle

O the war was declared and I left my love's nest
And I joined the Enniskillens along with the rest
I had scarcely a year for to fight for the King
When I was badly wounded and a prisoner became

It was then that I missed her, that wee girl named Coyle
For she married another on the banks of the Foyle

Now I'm home from the army, and I (?)
Just because I'm a soldier there's no work for me
And I can't find my dear friends, they've all gone from the Moyle
Far away from Londonderry on the banks of the Foyle

Parting Song

O kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme
And lift up your voices in chorus with mine
Let's drink and be merry all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again

Here's a health to the wee lass that I love so well
For style and for beauty there's none can excel
She smiles on me proudly and she sits on my knee
And there's none in this wide world as happy as me

My ship lies in harbor, she's ready to sail
God grant her safe voyage without any gale
And if we should meet again, be it land or on sea
I will always remember your kindness to me

So here's a health to the company, likewise to my lass
Let's drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let's drink and be merry all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again

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