The Enlightenment Songster

The Enlightenment Songster

A collection of 18th century songs,

with some of later date,

each to its own proper tune.

Compiled for

The Eighteenth Century Scottish Studies Society

by

William Donaldson and Ruth Perry

2009

CONTENTS

1

Amelia Earhart2

Auld Lang Syne2

Balm in Gilead2

Big Kilmarnock Bonnet3

Blow the Candles Out3

Calton Weaver3-4

Campbeltown Loch4

Chevaliers du table ronde4

Coulter’s Candy4

Dowie Dens o’ Yarrow4-5

Drumdelgie5-6

Farewell to Tarwathie6

Four Pence a Day6

Freedom Come All Ye6

Get Up and Bar the Door6-7

Gin I were where the Gadie rins7

Glenlogie7-8

Goodnight and joy be wi’ you a’8

Hey, ca’ thro’8

Husband, Husband, Cease your Strife8

If You will Mairry Me8-9

I know where I’m going9

Jamie Raeburn’s Farewell9

Jenny’s Bawbee9-10

Johnny Cope10

Logie o’ Buchan10-11

MacPherson’s Rant11

Maggie Lauder11

Mairi’s Wedding11

Mary Hamilton11-12

McGinty’s Meal and Ale12-13

Mingulay Boat Song13

Mormond Braes13

No more fish no fishermen13-14

Oh brother Sandy hear ye the news?14

Pair o’ Nicky Tams14-15

Pretty Flowers15

Puir auld woman15

Roll Alabama roll15-16

Rolling home across the sea16

Roseanna16

Strangest dream16

Surrounded by water16-17

The Barnyards o’ Delgaty17

The Birks of Abergeldie17

The Bleacher Lassie o’ Kelvinhall17

The Bonnie Earl o’ Moray17-18

The Bonnie Lass o’ Fyvie18

The Broom of the Cowdenknowes18-19

The Crocodile19-20

The D-Day Dodgers20

The Day We Went to Rothesay, O20

The Gallant Forty-Twa20-21

The Highland Division’s

farewell to Sicily21

The Jute Mill Song21

The Laird o’ Cockpen21-22

The Lass o’ Patie’s Mill22

The Lum Hat Wantin’ the Croon22

The road and the miles to Dundee22-23

The sons of the Prophet

were hardy and bold23

The Soor Mulk Cairt23-24

The Star o’ Rabbie Burns24

The Twa Corbies24

The Wee Magic Stane24-25

The Work o’ the Weavers25

The Yellow Haired Laddie25

Three Craws sat upon a Wa’25-26

To the Begging I will Go26

Tramps and Hawkers26-27

Tullochgorm27

Twa Recruiting Sergeants27-28

Waltzing Matilda28

Waly, Waly, up the Bank28

Wee Toun Clerk28-29

Will Ye No Come Back Again?29

Willie Brew’d a Peck o’ Maut29

Willie’s gane to MelvilleCastle29-30

Ye canna shove your granny aff a bus30

Ye’ll no sit here30

1

1

Amelia Earhart

A ship out on the ocean, just a speck against the sky

Amelia Earhart’s flying sad that day;

With her partner Captain Noonan on the second of

July

Her plane fell in the ocean far away.

There’s a beautiful beautiful field

Far away in a land that is fair;

Happy landings to you Amelia Earhart,

Farewell first lady of the air.

She radioed position and said that all was well,

Although the fuel within her tank was low;

But she’d land on Howland island and re-fuel her

monoplane

And then around the world again she’d go.

Well half an hour later her SOS was heard,

Her signal weak but still her voice was brave;

Over shark infested waters her plane went down that

night

In the blue Pacific to a watery grave.

And now you’ve heard my story of the awful tragedy

We wish that she might fly home safe again;

But in the years to come though others blaze a trail across the sky

We’ll ne’er forget Amelia and her plane.

There’s a beautiful beautiful field, etc.

Auld Lang Syne(text attributed to Mrs. Brown of Falkland)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Or friendship ere grow cauld;

Should we noo tighter draw the knot; aye, as we’re growing auld?

How comes it then, my worthy friend, wha used to be sae kind?

We dinna for each other speer, as we did lang syne?

Tho many a day be past and gane, sin’ we did ither see;

Yet gin the heart be still the same, it matters not a flee.

Gin ye hae not forgot the art to sound your harp divine,

Ye’ll find still I can bear my part and sing as lang syne.

I think upon the mony days when I, in youthfu’ pride,

Wi’ you aft rambled o’er the braes on bonny Bogie side.

The birdies frae the Arn tree, wha mixt their notes wi’ mine,

Were not mair blyth, nor fu’ o’ glee whan we did lang syne.

I think upo’ the bonny springs, ye used to me to play;

And how we used to dance and sing, the live-lang simmer day.

Nae fairies on the haunted green, where moonbeams twinkling shine,

Mair blythly frisked around their Queen, than we did lang syne.

What tho’ I be some aulder grown, and ablins not so gay;

What tho’ my locks o’ hazel brown be now well mixed wi’ grey;

I’m sure my heart’s nae caulder grown, but as my years decline,

Still friendship’s flame mair kindly glows than it did lang syne.

Tho’ ye live on the banks of Don, and I beneath the Tay,

Well might ye ride to Falkland’s Town Some bonny simmer’s day.

And in that place where Scotland’s Kings aft birl’d baith Beer and Wine

Let’s meet, an’ laugh, an’ dance, an’ sing, And crack of lang syne.

Auld Lang Syne (standard version)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

Balm in Gilead

Sometimes I feel discouraged

And think my work’s in vain;

But then the Holy spirit

Revives my soul again.

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded

whole,

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

If you can pray like Peter

If you can preach like Paul

Go out and tell your neighbor

He died to save us all.

There is a balm, etc.

Big Kilmarnock Bonnet

Whan I was aff to leave the ploo says I to Fairmer Broon
‘The money that you are owin’ tae me will you kindly lay it doon
This very day I mean to be in Glesca toon by half past three
I’ll bide nae mair a gackie in the country.’

Wi’ ma big Kilmarnock Bonnet as I ran to catch the train
I’ll never forget the trick that was played on me by Sandy Laing
Says he ‘mind Jock when ye get tae the toon speir ye for Katie Bain, ma loon,

She bides at number eichty street in Glesca.’

Now, when I got to Glesca toon the first young man I met
I speired at him quite civilly, ‘can ye show me eichty street?’
Wi’ that he bangs me on the lug says he ‘Dae ye tak me for a mug?
I say young man ye’ll meet yer match in Glesca.’

Wi’ ma big Kilmarnock Bonnet, etc.

I met a bonny lassie then dressed in a strippet frock;
She said tae me right cheerily, ‘Hello is that you, Jock?
Yer big Kilmarnock’s aff the plumb come on and staun’s a donal o’ rum,
Hoo lang do you intend to bide in Glesca?’

Wi’ ma big Kilmarnock Bonnet, etc.

Now the lassie in the strippet frock and her neighbour Katie Bain
As long as I live I never do hope to see the pair again;
They left me wi’ ma breeks and shirt, my big Kilmarnock covered wi’ dirt
Through rowin’ in the muckle streets o’ Glesca.

Wi’ ma big Kilmarnock Bonnet, etc.

But that’s nae a’ my story, for I’ve mair to tell beside.
The nicht bein’ dark and me bein’ fou, I fell intae the Clyde;
They hauled me oot, they ran me in, they swore they saw me loupin’ in,
And I finished up wi’ thirty days in Glesca.

Wi’ ma big Kilmarnock Bonnet, etc.

Blow the Candles Out

When I was apprenticed in London, I went to see my dear;

The roads they were all muddy, the moon shone bright and clear.

I knocked upon her window to ease her of her pain,

She rose up to let me in, then barred the door again.

I like well your behavior and this I often say

I cannot rest contented when I am far away

I cannot rest contented without a fear or doubt

So roll me in your arms, Love, and blow the candles out.

Your father and your mother in yonder room do lie

A-hugging one another, so why not you and I?

A-hugging one another, without a fear or doubt

So roll me in your arms, Love, and blow the candles out.

And if we prove successful, Love, please name it after me

Treat it neat and kiss it sweet and doff it on your knee;

When my three years are over, my time it will be out

I’ll double my indebtedness by blowing the candles out.

Calton Weaver

I am a weaver, a Calton weaver,

I am a brisk and a roving blade;

I have silver in my pouches,

And I follow a roving trade.

Whisky, whisky, Nancy whisky

Whisky, whisky, Nancy O.

As I walked into Glasgow city,

Nancy Whisky I chanced to smell;

I walked in, sat down beside her

Seven long years I loved her well.

Whisky, whisky, Nancy whisky, etc.

The more I kissed her, the more I loved her,

The more I kissed her, the more she smiled;

I forgot my mother's teaching,

Nancy soon had me beguiled.

Whisky, whisky, Nancy whisky, etc.

I woke early in the mornin’,

Tae slake ma drouth it was my need;

I tried to rise but was not able

Nancy had me by the heid.

Whisky, whisky, Nancy whisky, etc.

Come landlady, noo, what’s that lawin’?

Tell me what there is tae pay.

‘Fifteen shillings is the reck’ning;

Noo pay me quick and on your way.’

Whisky, whisky, Nancy whisky, etc.

I’ll gang back to the Calton weaving

I’ll surely mak those shuttles fly;

I’ll make more at the Calton weaving

Than ever I did in a roving way.

Whisky, whisky, Nancy whisky, etc.

So come all ye weavers, ye Calton weavers

Weavers a’ where e’re ye be;

Beware of Whisky, Nancy Whisky

She’ll ruin you like she ruined me.

Whisky, whisky, Nancy whisky, etc.

Campbeltown Loch I wish you were Whisky

Oh! Campbeltown Loch, I wish ye were whisky!

Campbeltown Loch, och aye!

Campbeltown Loch, I wish ye were whisky!

I would drink you dry.

Now Campbeltown Loch is a beautiful place,

But the price of the whisky is grim;

How nice it would be if the whisky was free

And the loch was filled up to the brim.

Oh! Campbeltown Loch, I wish ye were whisky! etc.

I’d buy a yacht with the money I got

And I’d anchor it out in the bay;

If I wanted a nip I’d go in for a dip

I’d be swimmin’ by night and by day.

Oh! Campbeltown Loch, I wish ye were whisky! etc.

But what if the boat should overturn

And drowned in the loch was I?

You’d hear me shout, you would hear me call out

‘What a wonderful way to die!’

Oh! Campbeltown Loch, I wish ye were whisky! etc.

But what’s this I see, ochone for me

It’s a vision to make your blood freeze:

It’s the polis afloat in a dirty big boat

And they’re shouting: ‘Time, gentlemen, please!’

Oh! Campbeltown Loch, I wish ye were whisky! etc.

Chevaliers de la table ronde

Chevaliers de la table ronde,

Goûtons voir si le vin est bon. (2x)

Goûtons voir, oui oui oui,

Goûtons voir, non non non,

Goûtons voir si le vin est bon. (2x)

S’il est bon, s’il est agréable,

J’en boirai jusqu`à mon plaisir (2x)

J’en boirai oui oui oui,

J’en boirai, non non non,

J’en boirai jusqu`'à mon plaisir. (2x)

Si je meurs, je veux qu’on m’enterre

Dans une cave où il y a du bon vin. (2x)

Dans une cave oui oui oui,

Dans une cave non non non,

Dans une cave où il y a du bon vin. (2x)

Les deux pieds contre la muraille

Et la tête sous le robinet. (2x)

Et la tête oui oui oui,

Et la tête non non non,

Et la tête sous le robinet. (2x)

Sur ma tombe je veux qu'on inscrive:

‘Ici gît la reine des buveurs’. (2x)

Ici gît, oui oui oui,

Ici gît, non non non,

Ici gît la reine des buveurs.’ (2x)

Coulter’s Candy

Ally bally ally bally bee

Sittin’ on your mammy’s knee,

Greetin’ for a wee bawbee

To buy some Coulter’s candy.

Ally bally ally bally bee,

When you grow up you’ll gang to sea;

To get some pennies for your daddy and me

To buy some Coulter’s candy.

Mammy gie’s ma bankie doon,

Here’s auld Coulter comin’ roon’

Wi’ a basket on his croon

Filled with Coulter’s candy.

Oor wee Jeannie’s lookin’ awfu’ thin,

Jist a rickle o’ banes covered o’er with skin;

But soon she’ll be getting’ a wee double chin

From soukin’ Coulter's candy.

Here’s a penny my bonny wee man

Doon the road as fast as ye can;

Gie up your money at Coulter’s stand

For a poke o’ Coulter's candy.

Livin’s afa’ hard the noo,

Faither’s signin’ on the broo;

But he’s got a penny for you

Tae buy some Coulter’s candy.

Go to sleep my bonny wee lamb,

It’s seven o’clock and your playing’s done;

But when you rise with the morning sun

You’ll get mair Coulter’s candy.

Dowie Dens o’ Yarrow

There was a lady in the North

I never saw her marrow;

She was courted by nine gentlemen

And a ploughboy lad frae Yarrow.

These nine sat drinking at the wine

Sat drinking wine in Yarrow;

And they made a vow among them all

To fecht wi; him on Yarrow.

She’s washed his face and kaimed his hair

As she has done afore-o;

And she made him like a knicht sae braw

To fecht for her on Yarrow.

As he went walking tae his home

Down by the houms o’ Yarrow,

It was there he spied nine gentlemen

Come to fecht wi' him on Yarrow.

Oh three he slew and three they flew

And three he wounded sairly;

Till her brother John came in beyond

And murdered him maist foully.

Oh faither dear I dreamed a dream

A dream o’ doom and sorrow

For I dreamed I was pullin’ heather bells

On the dowie dens o’ Yarrow.

Oh dochter dear I read your dream

I know it will bring sorrow;

For your ain true love lies pale and wan

On the dowie dens o’ Yarrow.

As she gaed up yon high high hills

Down by the houms o’ Yarrow;

It was there she saw her ain true love

Lyin’ pale and wan on Yarrow.

This lady’s hair was three-quarters long

The color it was yellow;

And she’s tied it round his middle small

And she’s borne him down from Yarrow.

Oh faither dear you’ve seven sons

Ye may wed them a’ tomorrow;

But the fairest flower among them all

Is the ploughboy lad frae Yarrow.

Drumdelgie

There’s a fairm toon up in Cairnie,
That’s kent baith far an wide,
Tae be the great Drumdelgie
Upon sweet Deveronside.

The fairmer o’ yon muckle toon
He is baith hard an sair,
An the cauldest day that ever blaws,
His servants get their share.
At five o’clock we quickly rise
An hurry doon the stair;
It’s there to corn oor horses,
Likewise tae straik their hair.

Syne, efter workin’ half-an-hour,
Each tae the kitchie goes,
It’s there tae get oor breakfast
Which generally is brose.
We’ve scarcely got oor brose weel supped,
An gien oor pints a tie,
When the foreman cries, ‘Hello, my lads!
The hour is drawin’ nigh,’

At sax o’clock the mull’s put on,
To gie us a’ stracht wark;
An’ sax o’ us we mak’ tae her,
Till ye could ring oor sark.
An when the water is put aff,
We hurry doon the stair,
Tae get some quarters through the fan
Till daylicht does appear.

When daylicht does begin tae peep,
An’ the sky begins tae clear,
The foreman cries ‘Hello, my lads!
Ye’ll bide nae langer here!’
There’s sax o’ ye’ll gang tae the ploo,
An twa will drive the neeps,
And the owsen they’ll be efter you
Wi strae raips roon their queets.

But when that we were gyangin’ oot,
An’ turnin’ oot tae yoke,
The snaw dang on sae thick an’ fast
That we were like tae choke.
The frost it was sae very hard,
The ploo she wadna go;
An’ sae oor cairtin’ days commenced
Amang the frost an snaw.

Our horses bein’ but young and sma’

The shafts they wadna fill;

An’ aft required the saddler’s aid

To draw them up the hill.

But we will sing oor horses’ praise,
Though they be young an’ sma,
They far ootshine the Broadland’s anes,
That gang sae big an’ braw.
Sae fare ye weel, Drumdelgie,
For I maun gang awa;
Sae fare ye weel Drumdelgie,
Yer weety weather an’ a.

Sae fare ye weel, Drumdelgie,
I bid ye a’ adieu;
I leave ye as I got ye -
A damned unceevil crew!

Farewell to Tarwathie

Farewell to Tarwathie, adieu Mormond Hill

And the dear land of Crimond, I bid you farewell;

I’m bound out for Greenland and ready to sail,

In hopes to find riches in hunting the whale

Farewell to my comrades, for a while we must part,

And likewise the dear lass who first won my heart;

he cold coast of Greenland my love will not chill

And the longer my absence, more loving she’ll feel.

Our ship is well rigged and she’s ready to sail,

The crew they are anxious to follow the whale;

Where the icebergs do fall and the stormy winds blow

Where the land and the ocean is covered with snow.

The cold coast of Greenland is barren and bare,

No seed-time nor harvest is ever known there;

And the birds here sing sweetly in mountain and dale