The 2016 Annual Song Writing Competition took place in the Pleasance Cabaret Bar, Edinburgh on Wednesday 1 June 2016 at 8pm. It was the 40th Anniversary of the first EFC Songwriting Competition. The 1976 winning song “Mither Mither” was written by the late Sheila Douglas.
Results
The jury voted
1. Tom Clelland – ‘Wooed Away’
2. Dave Wharton – ‘Ain’t No Easy Road’
3. George Machray – ‘Swinging in Dunbar’
The audience voted
1. George Machray – ‘Swinging in Dunbar’
In the audience vote, Emma Martin (The Laddie Comes Home’), Carole Prior (A Birl Aboot the Land of Oats) and Roy Henderson (The Coca-Cola Man) all tied for second place, while Tom Clelland (‘Wooed Away’) was placed third.
Wooed away (Tom Clelland)
She’s bright as a morning in May,
As warm as a midsummer’s day.
She’s sweet as the song on the beech groves at dawn
And ah but she’s wooed away.
Ah but she’s wooed away
And wasnae she wooed away?
By pleasures and wealth,
Temptation itself,
Her promises – blossoms and blooms that decay.
And ah but she’s wooed away
Ah but she’s wooed away.
And all my intentions were good
But I’ve wasted more time than I should.
Resolve disappears – it fades with the years
And I’m left only thoughts that I could.
Ah but I’m wooed away
And wasnae I wooed away?
By pleasures and wealth,
Temptation itself,
My promise was blossoms and blooms that decay.
And ah but I’m wooed away
Ah but I’m wooed away.
And are all politicians but rogues
Who herry and trap like a snare?
Wi their visions of power and their looking-glass towers,
They just talk like they really do care.
Ah but they’re wooed away
And arenae they wooed away?
By pleasures and wealth,
Temptation itself,
Their promises blossoms that bloom and decay.
And ah but they’re wooed away
Ah but they’re wooed away.
From the drive and ambition of youth
And the fire that ran deep in our veins,
Like stars burning bright we could light up the night
And we never did think we might change.
Ah but we’re wooed away
And werenae we wooed away?
By pleasures and wealth,
Temptation itself,
Our promises- blossoms that bloom and decay.
And ah but we’re wooed away
Ah but we’re wooed away.