Young Johnston
Johnston and the young Colonel
They were drinking high at wine
"If you will marry my sister
Then I will marry thine"
"O no, O no" said the Young Colonel,
"Such a thing shall never be.
I will keep her as my housekeeper
When I ride oer the lea."
Now Johnston had his gay broadsword
And a gay broadsword had he
He reared it through the young Colonel
Till a word he neer spoke more
Then he sparred his steed and swift he ran
Like lightning oer the lea
Till he did come to his sister's gate
And he tinkled at the pen
"I've dreamt a dream, brother dear Johnston,
And I hope it's for your good:
They're seekin ye wi hound and hawk
And the young Colonel is dead"
"They're seeking me wi hound and hawk
As I well expect they'll be
And I have killed the young Colonel
Your own dear lover was he"
"If ye have killed the young Colonel
Then damnËd ye shall be
You'll hang upon the gallows tree
And neer a chance to flee"
He sparred his steed and swift he ran
Like lightning oer the lea
Till he did come to his sweetheart's gate
And he tinkled at the pen
"I've dreamt a dream, love dear Johnston,
And I hope it's for your good:
They're seekin ye wi hound and hawk
And the young Colonel is dead"
"They're seekin me wi hound and hawk
As I well expect they'll be
And I have killed the young Colonel
Your own dear brother is he"
"Come in, come in, love dear Johnston,
Come in and take a sleep.
I care no more for the young Colonel
When your own dear body is safe"
He was scarcely landed up the stairs
Into the tower above
When four and twenty stout belted knights
Came seeking him at the gate
"O did you see a bloody knight
And a bloody knight is he
O did you see a bloody knight
Ride furiously oer the lea?"
"Alight, alight, ye gentlemen,
And have some bread and wine
If the steed be good he rides upon
He's across the bridge of Tyne"
"O thank you, lady, for your bread,
And thank you for your wine
But I'd rather than thrice a thousand pounds
That your fair body was mine"
Now Johnston had his gay broadsword
And a gay broadsword had he
He reared it through the lady's breast
Till a' dropped upon her knee
"What ails thee now, love dear Johnston,
What ails thee now at me?
I've given you all my father's land
Besides my mother's fee"
"O live, O live, Lady Margaret," he cried,
"Live for one half hour
And there's not a leech in all the land
But I'll have at your bower"
"How can I live, love dear Johnston,
Even for one half hour?
For can't you see my very heart's blood
Is trinklin on the floor?"
Now Johnston had his gay broadsword
And a gay broadsword had he
He reared it through his jealous heart
And clasping her, they died.
She Rolled It in Her Apron
Ah there were two bonnie wee lassies and they were dressed in blue
Went out one summer morning some rushes for to pu'
And one of them got a wee thing before she did return
And she bundled it and rolled it in her apron
Now the very first man she met was her father on the stair
O daughter, dear daughter, what have you got there?
Who gave to you the tamisher to wear a starchËd gown?
And you bundled it and rolled it in your apron
It is my muslin gown and it was some large for me
And I was afeared that troubled I would be
I was afeared that troubled I would be
So I bundled it and rolled it in my apron
O was it now the baker or was it now the clown
Or was it now the bonny boy who sails the world around
Who gave to you the tamisher to wear a starchËd gown?
And you bundled it and rolled it in your apron
It wasn't now the baker nor yet was it the clown
But it was the bonny boy who sails the world around
Who gave to me the tamisher to wear a starchËd gown
And I bundled it and rolled it in my apron
O was it in the parlor or was it in the hall
Or was it in the garden among the pretty flowers
That he gave to you the tamisher to wear a starchËd gown?
And you bundled it and rolled it in your apron
It wasn't in the parlor nor was it in the hall
But it was in the garden among the pretty flowers
That he gave to me the tamisher to wear a starchËd gown
And I bundled it and rolled it in my apron
Now there goes little Molly when she goes to the town
With the riggy-rocky slippers and the newly starchËd gown
With the riggy-rocky slippers and the newly starchËd gown
And she rolled it up so neatly in her apron
Gaelic Song
Forever hunting the highest hilltop
I scan the ocean your ship to see
Wilt come tonight, love? Wilt come tomorrow?
Or ever come, love, to comfort me?
(Refrain)
They call you fickle, they call you false one
And seek to change me, but all in vain
You are my dream yet throughout the long night
And every morn yet I scan the main
(Refrain)
Do you remember the promise made me?
The tartan plaidie, the silken gown?
The ring of gold and the tartan plaidie,
The golden ring I shall never own
(Refrain)
I Had a Wee Cock
I had a wee cock, a dear wee cock
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
I had a wee hen, a dear wee hen
A dear wee hennie tae me
My hen tuck tuck tuckit
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
I had a wee duck, a dear wee duck
A dear wee duckie tae me
My duck quack quack quackit
And my hen tuck tuck tuckit
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
I had a wee cat, a dear wee cat
A dear wee pussie tae me
My cat meow meow meowed
And my duck quack quack quackit
And my hen tuck tuck tuckit
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
I had a wee dog, a dear wee dog
A dear wee doggie tae me
My dog bow wow wowed
And my cat meow meow meowed
And my duck quack quack quackit
And my hen tuck tuck tuckit
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
I had a wee sheep, a dear wee sheep
A dear wee sheepie tae me
My sheep maa maa maad
And my dog bow wow wowed
And my cat meow meow meowed
And my duck quack quack quackit
And my hen tuck tuck tuckit
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
I had a wee coo, a dear wee coo
A dear wee cooie tae me
My coo moo moo mooed
And my sheep maa maa maad
And my dog bow wow wowed
And my cat meow meow meowed
And my duck quack quack quackit
And my hen tuck tuck tuckit
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
I had a wee grumphie, a dear wee grumphie
A dear wee grumphie tae me
My grumphie [snorting sounds]
And my coo moo moo mooed
And my sheep maa maa maad
And my dog bow wow wowed
And my cat meow meow meowed
And my duck quack quack quackit
And my hen tuck tuck tuckit
And my cock cockit and crew
Now everybody loves his cock
Why shouldn't I love my one too?
The Twa Sisters
O sister, dear sister, shall we take a walk?
The Dowie Dens o Yarrow
O there was a lady lived in the East
You could scarcely find her marrow
She was lovËd by nine gentlemen
And a plowboy laddie on Yarrow
The plowboy and nine gentlemen
Sat drinking wine on Yarrow
And they made a pact among themselves
That they'd fight for her tomorrow
As he came oer yon high high hill
And doon yon glen so narrow
There he met the gentlemen
For to fight for her tomorrow
O will ye tak a gun, a gun
Or will ye tak an arrow
Or will ye tak a gay broadsword
For to fight for her tomorrow?
I'll neither tak a gun, a gun
Nor will I tak an arrow
But I will tak a gay broadsword
And I'll fight for her tomorrow
There are nine o ye and just one o me
And that is not fine marrow
But I will tak ye three by three
And I'll fight for her tomorrow
Now three he slew and three withdrew
And three lay deadly wounded
When her brother John came slyly on
And he pierced him through the middle
Go home, go home, you false young man
And tell your sister Sarah
That her true love John lies dead and gone
On the dowie dens o Yarrow
[Her hair it was three quarters long
And the color of it was yellow
And she wrapped it around his middle small
And carried his corpse from Yarrow]
O mother dear I've dreamt a dream
And I hope it's not for sorrow
That I was pickin heather bells
On the dowie dens o Yarrow
O daughter dear, I can read your dream
And I read it all for sorrow
For your true love John he lies dead and gone
A bleeding corpse on Yarrow
Her hair it was three quarters long
And the color of it was yellow
She wrapped it around his middle small
And she carried his corpse from Yarrow
O mother dear you have seven bonny sons
You could wed them all tomorrow
But you'll be wedding me in a higher degree
To my plowboy laddie on Yarrow
O mother dear will you make my bed
And make it long and narrow
For if he did die for me last night
I will die for him tomorrow
The Convict and the Coastguard
O the clouds did fall and the sun did vanish
When a convict came to the Isle of France
And around his leg he wore a ring and chain
And his country it was of the shamrock green
Now a coastguard he walked along the beach
And he saw this convict beyond his reach
And the convict's chains they did shine and spark
And it opened the veins of this coastguard's heart
So the coastguard he launched a little boat
And oer the ocean to him did float
And the birds at night they got their silent rest
But the convict he had a wounded breast
Now this coastguard he played his noble part
And with some brandy he cheered the convict's heart
And the tears from his eyes they did fall like rain
And he said Young man, you're of the shamrock green
I am of the shamrock, the convict cried
And I served my time oer the ocean wide
I was a bit unruly I do declare
And I was transported for seven long years
Now a speedy letter went to the queen
To tell of the shipwreck of the shamrock green
And a speedy letter by a speedy post
Said to free the convict whom they thought was lost
So here's to that coastguard, he saved my life
He saved my life from the ocean wide
I will drink his health from a brimming glass
As I say farewell to the Isle of France
Coming Home from the Wake
O mother, dearest mother, there's a wake in Kildare
And that young Paddy Reilly he's promised to be there
And he loves me so sincerely and he loves me for my sake
O mother, dearest mother, may I go to the wake?
O yes, my darling Nellie, you may go to the wake
O yes, my darling daughter, you may go for his sake
If he loves you so sincerely and he loves you for your sake
But keep your knees together coming home from the wake
Now darling little Nellie as proud as any queen
She dressed herself in petticoats and drawers so neat and clean
Cause she loved him so sincerely and she loved him for his sake
But he had his way with Nellie coming home from the wake
Now six months are over, nine months have passed
And darling little Nellie she's drpped her load at last
And she loves it so sincerely and she loves it for its sake
And she's called the basket Paddy Coming Home from the Wake
Maids When You're Young
An auld man came courtin me
Hame Cam Our Goodman
O hame cam our goodman at een and hame cam he
There he saw a saddlehorse where nae horse should be
O how's this and what's this and wha's can it be
How cam this horse here without the leave o me?
O ye silly blind dolted carle and blennard may ye be
It's but a bonny milk coo ma mammy sent tae me
A milk coo? quo he; Aye a milk coo, quo she
O far hae I ridden and farer hae I gane
But saddles on milk coos saw I never nane
Hame cam our goodman at een and hame cam he
And there he saw a silver gun where nae gun should be
O how's this and what's this and wha's can it be
How cam this gun here without the leave o me?
O ye silly blind dolted carle and blennard may ye be
It's but a bonny porridge stick ma mammy sent tae me
A porridge stick? quo he; Aye a porridge stick, quo she
O far hae I ridden and farer hae I gane
But silver mounted porridge sticks saw I never nane
Hame cam our goodman at een and hame cam he
And there he saw a cockËd hat where nae hat should be
O how's this and what's this and wha's can it be
How cam this bonnet here without the leave o me?
O ye silly blind dolted carle and blennard may ye be
It's but a bonny clockin hen ma mammy sent tae me
A clockin hen? quo he; Aye a clockin hen, quo she
O far hae I ridden and farer hae I gane
But white cockades on clockin hens saw I never nane
Hame cam our goodman at een and hame cam he
And there he saw a Highland plaid where nae plaid should be
O how's this and what's this and wha's can it be
How cam this plaid here without the leave o me?
O hoolie hoolie my goodman and dinnae angered be
It cam wi my cousin frae the North Countrie
Your cousin? quo he; Aye my cousin, quo she
O blind as you may chide me I've sicht enough tae see
That you're hidin Tories in the house without the leave o me
Cradle Me on Your Knee
Do ye mind on yon silly old man, mamma
That you wed me tae yestreen?
O ma mamma O pa, she cried
Do ye mind on yon silly old man?
Had I no care enough, mamma
Had I no care enough?
Had I no care enough, papa
Care enough oer that old man?
For he trooshed me east and he trooshed me west
And he trooshed me all aroon
I wed him, I clad him and weel did I guide him
Till seven long years have gone
He trooshed me south, he trooshed me west
He trooshed me all aroon
But O how I niggled him, niggled him, niggled him
How I niggled that silly old man
Come cradle me on your knee, mamma
Come cradle me on your knee
O ma mamma papa, she cried
Come cradle me on your knee
My Ain Countrie
O why left I my hame?
Why did I cross the deep?
O why left I the land
Where my forefathers sleep?
I sigh for old Scotia's shore
And gaze across the sea
But I cannae get a glimpse
O my ain countrie
The palm tree it grows high
And fair the myrtle springs
And to the dusky maidens
The b(?) sweetly sings
But I cannae see the broom
Wi its tassles on the lea
Nor hear the lintie sing
O my ain countrie
There's a cure for every ill
And a balm for every pain
But the first joys of our lives
They neer return again
There's a track across the deep
And a path across the sea
But the weary neer return
Tae their ain countrie
The Baron o Brackley
Inveray cam tae Deeside whistling and playin
And he landed at Brackley's gate as the day was comin in
O Baron of Brackley, are ye within?
For there's sharp swords down at yer gate that will gar yer blood ren
Now the lady got up and to the window she went
And she saw her kine rennin oer moor and oer brent
O get ye up, Baron, and turn back yer kine
For they're aa rennin oer the hill, they're rennin away
Come back tae bed, Betsy and let the kine ren
For if I dare gang out, love, I will never win in
Then she cried on her women and they quickly cam ben
Pick up these stanes, lassies, and we will fight like men
So the baron got up and he put on his claithes
And a prettier baron neer rode on a horse
O rise, Betsy Gordon, and gie me my gun
But if I dare gang out, love, I will never return
Inveray had a dozen but I hae nane at all
There is only my brother and mysel to fight them all
So first they killed each (?) and syne they killed twa
They killed Jimmy Bracknell the flower o them aa
O cam ye by Brackley or cam ye by there
Did you see a young lady rivin her hair?
O I cam by Brackley and I cam by there
And I saw that young lady but she was dressin her hair
She was whistlin and singin and dancin for joy
Before she would spend the night in Inveray's arms
O fie on you lady....
Ca the Yowes tae the Knowes
Refrain:
Ca the yowes tae the knowes
Ca them whaur the heather grows
Ca them whaur the burnie rowes
My bonnie dearie
Hark the mavis' evenin sang
Sounds the Clooden woods amang
And (?) we will gang
My bonnie dearie
(Refrain)
We'll gang doon the Clooden side
Through the hazel spreadin wide
Oer the waves that softly glide
Tae the moor sae frearie
(Refrain)
Yonder Clooden silent towers
In the moonlight midnight hours
Oer the dewy sleepy flowers
Faeries dance sae cheerie
(Refrain)
Ghosts nor bogles needst thou fear
Thou'rt too love in heaven so dear
Naught that's evil can come near
My bonnie dearie
(Refrain)
O but I'm Weary
Refrain:O but I'm weary weary waitin
O but I'm weary nicht and day
I wish I had the stump o a man
Tae carry my weary life away
O wad ye tak a man, dear daughter,
Earns his money (?) stanes?
O no dear mother I wadnae hae him
For he micht fa doon and break his banes
(Refrain)
O wad ye tak a man, dear daughter,
Earns his money by the plow?
O no dear mother I wadnae hae him
For a plowman's wife has muckle ado
(Refrain)
O wad ye tak a man, dear daughter,
Earns his money by the tin?
O no dear mother I wadnae hae him
The rattle o his mallet wad gar me rin
(Refrain)
O wad ye tak a man, dear daughter,
Earns his money by the pen?
O aye dear mother I wad hae him
If I had a notion o gentlemen
?
I'm a poor simple maiden, my fortune's been bad
For years I was courted by a bold sailor lad
Then imagine my sorrow, my grief and my pain
Since he's now gone and left me, he's left me alane
He sent me a letter for me not to mourn
I wrote him an answer I could do my own turn
I could work or sit idle as occasion suits me
Take a rest when I'm weary sayin farewell to thee
He sent me another with a red rose so fine
I wrote him an answer with the rose and the thyme
Sayin Keep your love letters and I will keep mine
You write to your love and I will write to mine
O are you awaiting on some better chance
Or are you awaiting your fortune to advance
Or are you intending for to keep me in store
Or are you meaning to tell me that you love me no more?
O I'm not awaiting on some better chance
Nor am I awaiting my fortune to advance
Nor am I intending for to keep you in store
But I do mean to tell you that I love you no more
O you keep the rue, love, and I will keep the thyme
You write to your new love and I'll write to mine
It's no use lamenting for what might have been
It's an old and true sayin that a new broom sweeps clean
The Cliffs o Gleniffar
Cold blows the blast oer the cliffs o Gleniffar
The old castle towrie is covered wi snaw
Changed frae the days when I first met my lover
Among the green bushes on Stanley's green shores
The trees are all bare and the birds mute and dowie
They shake the cold drift frae their wings as they flee
But far frae the camp they hae marched my dear laddie
It's winter wi him and it's winter wi me
So it's no the cold winter, the wind whistlin dowie
It's no the cold drift brings a tear tae my ee
O no tis the thought o my ain Scottish laddie
It's winter wi him and it's winter wi me
The Cuckoo's Nest
O hi the cuckoo ho the cuckoo hi the cockoo's nest
O hi the cuckoo ho the cuckoo hi the cockoo's nest
I'll give anyone a shillin and a bottle o the best
If they'll ruffle up the feathers o the cuckoo's nest
There's a wee briar bush in our keelyard
There's a wee briar bush in our keelyard
And in ahint the bush ah there is a lad and lass
And they're busy busy harryin the cuckoo's nest
O hi the cuckoo ho the cuckoo hi the cockoo's nest
O hi the cuckoo ho the cuckoo hi the cockoo's nest
I'll give anyone a shillin and a bottle o the best
If they'll ruffle up the feathers o the cuckoo's nest
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