Scots songs for Scotland Sings

The following Scots songs come from the forthcoming new web resource to be hosted by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), which goes online in 2013. TRACS are providing song resources for Scotland Sings 2012.

The songs here were selected and collated by Ewan McVicar, who has worked extensively on the Scotland’s Songs website for Education Scotland, along with his own rich store of song websites connected with his work in schools across the country. The TRACS web resource is being edited for publication by Steve Byrne.

A MAN’S A MAN FOR A’ THAT
AULD LANG SYNE
THE BARNYARDS O DELGATY
THE BONNIE EARL O MORAY
GALLOWA HILLS
GREEN GROW THE RASHES, O
JOHNNY LAD
MORMOND BRAES
PLOOMAN LADDIES
SUCH A PARCEL O ROGUES
TWA RECRUITIN SAIRGEANTS
GIN I WERE WHAUR THE GADIE RINS
BONNIE GLEN SHEE
COMIN’ THRO’ THE RYE
COULTER’S CANDY
DOON IN THE WEE ROOM
DUMBARTON’S DRUMS
FREEDOM COME ALL YE
MY AIN COUNTRIE (The Sun Rises Bright in France)
THE JUTE MILL SONG (Oh Dear Me)
SCOTLAND WILL FLOURISH
WE’RE NO AWA

A MAN’S A MAN FOR A’ THAT

By Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Is there, for honest poverty that hangs his head an a’ that;
The coward-slave, we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a’ that
For a’ that, an a’ that
Our toils obscure an a’ that
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp
The Man’s the gowd for a’ that

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an a’ that
Gie fools their silks and knaves their wine,
A Man’s a Man for a’ that
For a’ that, an a’ that
Their tinsel show an a’ that
The honest man, though e’er sae poor
Is king o men for a’ that

Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord
Wha struts, an stares, an a’ that
Tho’ hundreds worship at his word,
He’s but a coof for a’ that
For a’ that, an a’ that
His ribband, star, an a’ that
The man o’ independent mind,
He looks an laughs at a’ that

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an a’ that
But an honest man’s aboon his might –
Guid faith, he mauna fa’ that!
For a’ that, an a’ that
Their dignities, an a’ that,
The pith o sense an pride o worth
Are higher rank than a’ that

Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a’ that
That sense and worth o’er a’ the earth
Shall bear the gree an a’ that
For a’ that, an a’ that
It’s comin yet for a’ that
That man to man the warld o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that

Hear this song sung at http://tinyurl.com/crhwdy7

More information about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/amansaman.htm

AULD LANG SYNE

By Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Tune: Can Ye Labour Lea

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo
For auld lang syne
We’ll tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne

And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run about the braes
And pu’d the gowans fine
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie’s a hand o thine!
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught
For auld lang syne

Hear this song and read more about it at
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/secondary/genericcontent_tcm4555466.asp

THE BARNYARDS O DELGATY

As ah gaed doon tae Turra Merket,
Turra Merket fur tae fee,
Ah met in wi a wealthy fairmer,
The Barnyards o Delgaty.

Linten adie, tooren adie,
Linten adie, tooren ay,
Linten lowrin lowrin lowrin,
The Barnyards o Delgaty.

He promised me the twa best horse
I ever set my een upon.
When ah gaed hame tae the Barnyards
There was nothin there but skin and bone.

The auld grey mare sat on her hunkers,
The auld dun horse lay in the grime.
For aa that I would ‘hup’ and crack,
They wouldna rise at yokin time.

When I gang tae the kirk on Sunday,
Mony’s the bonny lass I see,
Sittin by her faither’s side,
Winkin ower the pews at me.

Some can drink and no be drunk,
And some can fecht and no be slain.
I can coort anither man’s lass,
And aye be welcome tae my ain.

Ma cannle noo is fair brunt oot,
The snotter’s fairly on the wane,
Fare ye weel, ye Barnyards,
Ye’ll never catch me here again.

Hear this song sung and read more about it at http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/primary/genericcontent_tcm4554484.asp

THE BONNIE EARL O MORAY

Ye Hielands an ye Lawlands
O, whaur hae ye been
They hae slain the Earl of Moray
And lain him on the green.
He was a braw callant
And he rade at the ring,
O the bonnie Earl o Moray
He micht hae been the king!
Lang may his lady
Look frae the Castle Doune,
Ere she see the Earl o Moray
Come soundin through the toun.

Now wae betide thee, Huntly
And whaurfor did ye sae?
I hae bade ye bring him wi ye
But forbade ye him tae slay.
He was a braw callant
And he played at the baa,
Oh the Bonnie Earl o Moray
The flooer amang them aa.
Lang may his lady
Look frae the Castle Doune
Ere she see the Earl o Moray
Come soundin through the toun.

Ye Hielan’s and ye Lowlan’s
O whaur hae ye been?
They hae slain the Earl of Moray
An laid him on the green
He was a braw gallant
And he rade at the glove
Oh the Bonnie Earl o Moray
He was the Queen’s true love
Lang may his lady
Look frae the Castle Doune
Ere she see the Earl o Moray
Come soundin through the toun.

Hear this song sung by the Corrie Folk Trio and Paddie Bell at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZgOmw4a58A

GALLOWA HILLS

For ah’ll tak ma plaidie, contented tae be
A wee bit kilted abune my knee
And ah’ll gie ma pipes anither blaw
And ah’ll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa

For the Gallowa hills are coverit wi broom
Wi heather bells in bonny bloom
Wi heather bells and rivers aa
And we’ll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa

And it’s hey, bonny lass, will ye come alang wi me
Tae share my lot in a strange country
Tae share my lot when doon fa’s aa
And we’ll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa

For I’ll sell my rock, I’ll sell my reel
I’ll sell my grannie’s spinnin wheel
I’ll sell them aa, when doon fa’s aa
And we’ll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa
Hear this song sung at YouTube by Fiona Heywood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl5b1mrdz20

or at Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches by Jo Miller:
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/85582/17

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/gallawahills.htm

GREEN GROW THE RASHES, O

by Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Green grow the rashes, O;
Green grow the rashes, O;
The sweetest oors that e’er I spend,
Are spent amang the lasses, O.

There’s nought but care on ev’ry han’,
In ev’ry oor that passes, O:
What signifies the life o’ man,
An’ ’twere na for the lasses, O.

The war’ly race may riches chase,
An’ riches still may fly them, O;
An’ tho’ at last they catch them fast,
Their hearts can ne’er enjoy them, O.

But gie me a cannie hour at e’en,
My arms about my dearie, O;
An’ war’ly cares, an’ war’ly men,
May a’ gae tapsalteerie, O!

For you sae douce, ye sneer at this;
Ye’re nought but senseless asses, O:
The wisest man the warl’ e’er saw,
He dearly lov’d the lasses, O.

Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes, O:
Her prentice han’ she try’d on man,
An’ then she made the lasses, O.

Listen to a version by the late Michael Marra on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/Io-n-WIcj_M

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/greengrowtherasheso.htm

JOHNNY LAD

I bought a wife in Edinburgh for a bawbee
I got a farthing back again to buy tobacco wi

And wi you, and wi you, and wi you, Johnny lad,
I’ll drink the buckles aff my sheen wi you, my Johnny lad

When auld King Arthur ruled this land, he was a thieving king,
He stole three bows o barley meal to make a white pudding

The pudding it was awfu guid, ‘twas weel mixed up wi plooms,
The lumps of suet into it were big as baith my thooms

Samson was a michty man and fought wi cuddie’s jaws
And fought a score o battles wearing crimson flannel drawers

There was a man in Nineveh and he was wondrous wise
He lowped into a hawthorn hedge and scratched oot baith his eyes

And when he saw his eyes were oot, he was gey troubled then
He lowped into another hedge and scratched them in again

Napoleon was an emperor, he ruled by land and sea
He was king of France and Germany but never ruled Polmadie

One Sunday I went walking and there I saw the Queen
Playing at the fitba with the lads on Glesca Green

The captain o the ither side was scoring wi great style
So the Queen she ca’ed a polisman and stuck him in the jyle

Johnny is a bonnie lad, he is a lad o mine
I never had a better lad and I’ve had twenty-nine

Listen to a version by the Corrie Folk Trio at YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7qQArknL8

Read more about it at http://www.contemplator.com/scotland/jlad.html

MORMOND BRAES

As I cam in by Strichen toon
I heard a fair maid mournin
She was makkin sair complaint
For her true love ne’er returnin

So fare ye weel ye Mormond Braes
Where aftimes I’ve been cheery
Fare ye weel ye Mormond Braes
For it’s there I lost my dearie

I’ll pit on a goon o green
It’s a forsaken token
And that will let the young men know
That the bands of love are broken

There’s mony a horse that’s snappert an fa’en
An risen and gane fu rarely
Mony’s the lass has lost her lad
And gotten anither richt early

There’s as guid fish intae the sea
As ever yet’s been taken
I’ll cast my line an try again
I’m only aince forsaken

And I’ll gang back tae Strichen toon
Whaur I was bred and born
And there I’ll get another sweetheart
Will marry me the morn

Hear Robin Hall & Jimmie MacGregor sing this song on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp5yAJ7DgiE

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/mormondbraes.htm

PLOOMAN LADDIES

Doon yonder den there’s a plooman lad
Some simmer’s day he’ll be aa my ain

And sing laddie aye, and sing laddie o
The plooman laddies are aa the go

I love his teeth, an I love his skin
I love the verra cairt he hurls in

In yonder toon ah could hae gotten a merchant
But aa his gear wisna worth a groat

Doonyonder den ah could hae gotten a miller
But aa his dust wad hae deen me ill

It’s ilka time I gyang tae the stack
I hear his wheep gie the ither crack

I see him comin frae the toon
Wi aa his ribbons hingin roon and roon

Hear this song sung by Elizabeth Stewart at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TnrdJ6qY1s

or Christine Kydd at
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/primary/genericcontent_tcm4555541.asp

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/ploomanladdies.htm

SUCH A PARCEL O ROGUES

By Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Fareweel to a’ our Scottish fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory
Fareweel even to the Scottish name,
Sae famed in martial story!
Now Sark rins o’er the Solway sands,
And Tweed rins to the ocean
To mark whare England’s province stands,
Such a parcel o rogues in a nation!

What force or guile could not subdue
Thro’ many warlike ages
Is wrought now by a coward few
For hireling traitors’ wages.
The English steel we could disdain,
Secure in valour’s station,
But English gold has been our bane,
Such a parcel o rogues in a nation!

Oh would, or I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey head had lien in clay
Wi Bruce and loyal Wallace!
But pith and power, till my last hour,
I’ll mak this declaration;
We’re bought and sold for English gold
Such a parcel o rogues in a nation!

Watch The Corries sing this song on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js7x3u2GHYs

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/suchaparcelofrogues.htm

TWA RECRUITIN SAIRGEANTS

Twa recruitin sairgeants cam frae the Black Watch
To markets and fairs some recruits for to catch
An a’ that they listed was forty and twa
So list, bonnie laddie, and come awa

And it’s over the mountains and over the main
Through Gibraltar to France and Spain
Get a feather tae yer bonnet and a kilt abune yer knee
Enlist, bonnie laddie, an come awa wi me

Oh laddie, ye dinna ken the danger that ye’re in
If your horses wis tae fleg an your owsen wis tae rin,
This greedy auld fairmer winna pey your fee
So list, bonnie laddie, an come awa wi me

It’s intae the barn an oot o the byre
This auld fairmer thinks ye’ll never tire
For it’s a slavery job of low degree
So list, bonnie laddie, an come awa wi me

Wi your tattie poorins an your meal an kail
Your soor sowen soorins an your ill-brewed ale
Wi your buttermilk an whey an your breid fired raw
So list, bonnie laddie, an come awa

Oh laddie, if ye’ve got a sweetheart an bairn
Ye’ll easily get rid o that ill-spun yairn
Twa rattles of the drum and that’ll pey it a’
So list, bonnie laddie, an come awa

Watch a version by The McCalmans at YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96vrUujm_c

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/twarecruitinsairgeants.htm

GIN I WERE WHAUR THE GADIE RINS

Gin I were whaur the Gadie rins,
Whaur the Gadie rins, whaur the Gadie rins,
Gin I were whaur the Gadie rins
At the back o Bennachie.

I never would come back again
Come back again, come back again
I never would come back again
Your lowland lands tae see

I never had but twa richt lads,
Twa richt lads, twa richt lads,
I never had but twa richt lads,
And dearly they loed me.

The tane was killed at the Lowrin Fair,
At the Lowrin Fair, at the Lowrin Fair,
The tane was killed at the Lowrin Fair,
The tither was drooned in the Dee.

There’s meal an there’s ale whaur the Gadie rins,
Wi the yellow broom an the bonny whins.
There’s meal an ale whaur the Gadie rins,
At the back o Bennachie.

To hear a fine version of this song sung by John Strachan and Jimmy MacBeath, visit the Alan Lomax Archive:
http://research.culturalequity.org/rc-b2/get-audio-detailed-recording.do?recordingId=12262

BONNIE GLEN SHEE

Dae ye see yon high hills
Aa covered ower wi snaa
They hae pairted mony’s a true love
And they’ll soon pairt us twa

Busk, busk, bonny lassie
And come awa wi me
And I’ll tak ye tae Glen Isla
Near bonnie Glen Shee

Dae ye see yon shepherds,
As they walk alang
Wi their plaidies huddled roond them
And their sheep grazin on

Dae ye see yon sodgers
As they mairch alang
Wi their muskets on their shouders
And their broadswords hingin doon

Dae ye see yon high hills
Aa covered ower wi snaa
They hae pairted mony’s a true love
And they’ll soon pairt us twa

Hear versions of this song at Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches:
http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/81881/16

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/bonnyglenshee.htm

COMIN’ THRO’ THE RYE
by Robert Burns

Comin thro’ the rye poor body
Comin thro’ the rye
She’s draigl’t a’ her petticoatie
Comin thro’ the rye

Jenny’s a’ weet poor body
Jenny’s seldom dry
She’s draigl’t a’ her petticoatie
Comin thro’ the rye

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the rye
Gin a body kiss a body
Need a body cry

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the glen
Gin a body kiss a body
Need the warld ken?

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the grain
Gin a body kiss a body
The thing’s a body’s ain

Hear this song sung and read more about it at http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/secondary/genericcontent_tcm4555472.asp

COULTER’S CANDY
by Robert Coltart

Ally, bally, ally, bally bee
When you grow up you’ll go to sea
Makin pennies for your daddy and me
Tae buy mair Coulter’s Candy

Mammy gie me ma thrifty doon
Here’s auld Coulter comin roon
Wi a basket on his croon
Selling Coulter’s Candy

Little Annie’s greetin tae
Sae whit can puir wee Mammy dae
But gie them a penny atween them twae
Tae buy mair Coulter’s Candy

Poor wee Jeannie’s looking affa thin
A rickle o banes covered ower wi skin
Noo she’s getting a double chin
Wi sookin Coulter’s Candy

Hear this song and read more about it at http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/earlyyears/coulterscandy.asp

DOON IN THE WEE ROOM

Doon in the wee room, underneath the stair
Everybody’s happy, everybody’s there
And we’re aa makkin merry, each in his chair
Doon in the wee room, underneath the stair

When ye’re tired and weary, and ye’re feeling blue
Don’t give way to sorrow, I’ll tell ye what tae do
Take a trip tae Springburn, find Quin’s bar there
And go doon tae the wee room, underneath the stair

A king went oot a-huntin, his fortune for tae seek
He missed his train at Partick, went missin for a week
But after days of searchin, sorrow and despair
They fun him in the wee room, underneath the stair

If yer team has won the day, and ye want tae cheer
Take a trip tae Springburn and order up a beer
Have yersel a bevvy, gie yersel a terr
Doon in the wee room, underneath the stair

When ah’m auld an feeble and ma bones are getting set
Ah’ll no get cross an grumpy like other people get
A’hm savin up ma bawbees tae buy a hurly chair
Tae tak me tae the wee room, underneath the stair

Hear a version of the song at YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JGm8GCzsFs

More information about the song at http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab11/doonw.html

DUMBARTON’S DRUMS

Dumbarton’s drums they sound so bonny
And they remind me o my Johnny,
What fond delights they steal upon me
When Johnny kneels and kisses me

My love he is a handsome laddie
And though he is Dumbarton’s caddie
Some day I’ll be a captain’s lady
When Johnny tends his vow to me

Across the fields of bounding heather
Dumbarton sounds the hour of pleasure
The joy I know will know no measure
When Johnny kneels and kisses me

‘Tis he alone that can delight me
His roving eye it doth invite me
And when his tender arms enfold me
The blackest night doth turn and flee

Hear this song and read more about it at
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/secondary/DumbartonsDrums.asp

Read even more about it at http://sangstories.webs.com/dumbartonsdrums.htm

FREEDOM COME ALL YE
by Hamish Henderson
Tune: The Bloody Fields of Flanders

Roch the wind in the clear day’s dawin
Blaws the cloods heelster gowdie ow’r the bay
But there’s mair nor a roch wind blawin
Through the great glen o the warld the day.
It’s a thocht that will gar oor rottans
A’ they rogues that gang gallus, fresh and
gay
Tak the road and seek ither loanins
For their ill ploys, tae sport and play

Nae mair will the bonnie callants
Mairch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw,
Nor wee weans frae pit-heid and clachan
Mourn the ships sailin doon the Broomielaw.
Broken faimlies in lands we’ve herriet
Will curse Scotland the Brave nae mair, nae mair;
Black and white, ane til ither mairriet
Mak the vile barracks o their maisters bare

So come all ye at hame wi Freedom,
Never heed whit the hoodies croak for
doom
In your hoose a’ the bairns o Adam
Can find breid, barley-bree and painted
room.
When MacLean meets wi’s freens in Springburn
A’ the roses and geans will turn tae bloom,
And a black boy frae yont Nyanga
Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doon.

Read about and hear versions of this song at http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/secondary/thefreedomcomeallye.asp

Read much more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/freedomcomeallye.htm

MY AIN COUNTRIE (The Sun Rises Bright in France)

by Allan Cunningham (1784–1842)

The sun rises bright in France, and fair sets he,
But he has lost the look he had, in my ain countrie
Though gladness comes to many, a sorrow comes to me
As I look o’er the ocean wide tae my ain countrie

It’s no my ain ruin that saddens aye my ee
But the love I left in Gallowa wi bonnie bairnies three
My hamely hearth burns bonnie an smiles my sweet Marie
I left my heart behind me, in my ain countrie

The bird wins back tae summertime, and the blossom tae the tree
But I’ll win back, no never, tae my ain countrie
I’m leal tae high heaven, that will prove leal tae me
An I will meet ye a’ richt soon, frae my ain countrie

Hear this song sung by Sheena Wellington at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jhoPlzkWc4

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/myaincountrie.htm

THE JUTE MILL SONG (Oh Dear Me)

by Mary Brooksbank

Oh dear me, the mill’s gaen fest,
The puir wee shifters canna get a rest,
Shiftin bobbins coorse and fine,
They fairly mak ye work for your ten and nine

Oh dear me, I wish the day was done
Rinnin up an doon the pass is nae fun
Shiftin, piecing, spinnin, warp weft an twine
Tae feed an cled my bairnie affen ten an nine

Oh dear me, the warld’s ill-divided
Them that work the hardest are aye wi least provided
But I maun bide contented, dark days or fine
There’s nae much pleasure living affen ten and nine

Listen to Mary Brooksbank (1897-1978) sing and describe how she composed the song at the Kist o Riches website http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/24693/1

Jim Reid of Dundee sings a more recent version here:
http://soundcloud.com/springthyme/oh-dear-me-jute-mill-song

Read more about this song at http://sangstories.webs.com/ohdearme.htm

SCOTLAND WILL FLOURISH

Ian B. Richardson

Scotland will flourish by the sweat of our labour
The strength of our will and the force of our minds
Forget the old battles, those days are over
Hatred corrupts and friendship refines

Let the Scots be a nation so proud of their heritage
With an eye to the future and a heart to forgive
And let us be rid of those bigots and fools
Who will not let Scotland live and let live

Let us govern over country wisely and fairly
Let each man and woman work wi a will
And Scotland will flourish secure in the knowledge
That we reap our own harvest and ring our own till

And let us be known for our kind hospitality
A hand that is openly proffered to friends
A hard working people, proud and unbending
Scotland will thrive and win out in the end

Scotland will flourish by the sweat of our labour
The strength of our will and the force of our minds
Forget the old battles, those days are over
Hatred corrupts and friendship refines

So let us be known for our kind hospitality
A hand that is openly proffered to friends
A hard working people, proud and unbending
Scotland will thrive and win out in the end

Hear this song at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkr9c_ok-7c

WE’RE NO AWA

As ah wis walkin doon the street, ah met wi Johnnie Scobie
Say’s he tae me, ‘Will ye go a hauf?’ Says I, ‘Man, that’s ma hobby’

For we’re no awa tae bide awa, we’re no awa tae leave ye
We’re no awa tae bide awa, we’ll aye come back and see ye

So we had a hauf and anither hauf, anither and anither
Says I tae he, say’s he tae me, ‘Ah lo’e ye like a brither’

Hear Andy Stewart sing his version with additional verses of this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YIA1i0pBtw