Ye Banks and Braes

Ye Banks and Braes

Ye banks and braes o' Bonnie Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant ye little birds,
And I sae weary, fu' o' care?
Ye'll break my heart, ye warbling birds,
That wanton through the flow'ry thorn,
Ye mind me o' departed joys,
Departed never to return.

Aft hae I rov'd by Bonnie Doon,
To see the rose and woodbine twine:
And ilka bird sang o' its luve,
And fondly sae did I o' mine.
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree!
And my fause luver staw my rose,
But ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

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Wild Mountain Thyme

Wild Mountain Thyme

Oh, the summertime is coming
And the trees are sweetly blooming
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the blooming heather,
Will ye go, lassie, go?

Chorus:
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme.
All around the blooming heather,
Will ye go, lassie, go?

I will build my love a tower
Near yon pure crystal fountain,
And on it I will pile
All the flowers of the mountain,
Will ye go, lassie, go?

Chorus

If my true love she were gone,
I would surely find another,
Where wild mountain thyme
Grows around the blooming heather,
Will ye go, lassie, go?

Chorus

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Westering Home

Westering Home

Chorus:
And it's westering home, and a song in the air,
Light in the eye, and it's goodbye to care.
Laughter o' love, and a welcoming there,
Isle of my heart, my own one.

Tell me o' lands o' the Orient gay,
Speak o' the riches and joys o' Cathay:
Eh, but it's grand to be wakin' ilk day
To find yourself nearer to Isla,

Chorus

Where are the folk like the folk o' the west?
Canty and couthy and kindly, the best;
There I would hie me, and there I would rest
At hame wi' my am folk in Isla.

Chorus

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Uist Tramping Song

Uist Tramping Song

Chorus:
Come along, come along,
Let us foot it out together,
Come along, come along,
Be it fair or stormy weather,
With the hills of home before us,
And the purple of the heather,
Let us sing in happy chorus,
Come along, come along.

O gaily sings the lark,
And the sky's all awake,
With the promise of the day
For the road we gladly take;
So it's heel and toe and forward,
Bidding farewell to the town,
For the welcome that awaits us
Ere the sun goes down.

Chorus

It's the call of sea and shore
It's the tang of bog and peat,
And the scent of brier and myrtle
That puts magic in our feet;
So it's on we go rejoicing,
Over bracken, over stile,
And it's soon we will be tramping
Out the last long mile.

Chorus

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The Road to the Isles

The Road to the Isles

A far croonin' is pullin' me away
As take I wi' my cromak to the road.
The far Coolins are puttin' love on me,
As step I wi' the sunlight for my load.

Chorus:
Sure, by Tummel and Loch Rannoch
And Lochaber I will go,
By heather tracks wi' heaven in their wiles;
If it's thinkin' in your inner heart
Braggart's in my step,
You've never smelt the tangle o' the Isles.
Oh, the far Coolins are puttin' love on me,
As step I wi' my cromak to the Isles.

It's by 'Sheil water the track is to the west,
By Aillort and by Morar to the sea,
The cool cresses I am thinkin' o' for pluck,
And bracken for a wink on Mother's knee.

It's the blue Islands are pullin' me away,
Their laughter puts the leap upon the lame,
The blue Islands from the Skerries to the Lews,
Wi' heather honey taste upon each name.

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The Road to Dundee

The Road to Dundee

Cauld winter was howlin' o'er moor and o'er mountain
And wild was the surge of the dark rolling sea,
When I met about daybreak a bonnie young lassie,
Wha asked me the road and the miles to Dundee.

Says I 'My young lassie, I canna' weel tell ye,
The road and the distance I canna' weel gie,
But if you'll permit me tae gang a wee bittie,
I'll show you the road and the miles to Dundee.'

At once she consented, and gave me her arm,
Ne'er a word I did speir wha the lassie might be:
She appeared like an angel in feature and form,
As she walked by my side on the road to Dundee.

At length wi' the Howe o' Strathmartine behind us,
And the spires o' the toon in full view we could see;
She said, 'Gentle sir, I can never forget ye
For showing me so far on the road to Dundee.

This ring and this purse take to prove I am grateful,
And some simple token I trust ye'11 gie me,
And in times to come I'll remember the laddie
That showed me the road and the miles to Dundee.'

I took the gowd pin from the scarf on my bosom,
And said, 'Keep ye this in remembrance o' me',
Then bravely I kissed the sweet lips o' the lassie
Ere I parted wi' her on the road to Dundee.

So here's to the lassie—I ne'er can forget her—
And ilka young laddie that's listening tae me;
And never be sweer to convoy a young lassie,
Though it's only to show her the road to Dundee.

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Scots Wha Hae

Scots Wha Hae

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots wham Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gorie bed,
Or to Victorie!
Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's pow'r
Chains and slaverie!

Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
Wha, for Scotland's King and Law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or Freeman fa',
Let him on wi, me!

By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud Usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us do or die!

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Scotland the Brave

Scotland the Brave

Hark when the night is falling
Hear! the pipes are calling,
Loudly and proudly calling,
Down thro' the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping,
Now feel the blood a-leaping.
High as the spirits of the old Highland men.

Chorus:

Towering in gallant fame,
Scotland my mountain hame,
High may your proud standards gloriously wave,
Land of my high endeavour.
Land of the shining river,
Land of my heart forever,
Scotland the brave.

High in the misty Highlands,
Out by the purple islands,
Brave are the hearts that beat
Beneath Scottish skies.
Wild are the winds to meet you,
Staunch are the friends that greet you,
Kind as the love that shines
From fair maidens' eyes.

Chorus

Far off in sunlit places,
Sad are the Scottish faces,
Yearning to feel the kiss
Of sweet Scottish rain.
Where tropic skies are beaming,
Love sets the heart a-dreaming,
Longing and dreaming for the homeland again.

Chorus

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My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose

My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose

O my love is like a red red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O my love is like a melodic
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass.
So deep in love am I.
And I will love thee still, my dear.
Till a the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
And I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare-thee-weel, my only love!
And fare-thee-weel a while!
And I will come again, my love,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile.

Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile, my love,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile.
And I will come again, my love,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile.

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The Auld Hoose

Oh! the auld hoose, the auld hoose,
What tho' the rooms were wee,
Oh, kind hearts were dwelling there,
And bairnies fu' o' glee.
And wild rose and the jessamine
Still hang upon the wa'
Hoo mony cherished memories
Do they sweet flow'rs reca'.

Oh, the auld laird, the auld laird,
Sae canty, kind and crouse:
How mony did he welcome
To his ain wee dear auld hoose.
And the leddy too, sae genty,
There shelterd Scotland's heir,
And clipt a lock wi' her ain hand
Frae his lang yellow hair

The mavis still doth sweetly sing,
The blue bells sweetly blaw;
The bonnie Barn's clear windin' still,
But the auld hoose is awa'.
The auld hoose, the auld hoose,
Deserted tho' ye be,
There ne'er can be a new hoose
Will seem sae fair to me.

Still flourishin' the auld pear tree.
The bairnies liked to see;
And oh! how aften did they spier
When ripe they a' wad be.
The voices sweet, the wee bit feet,
Aye rinnin' here and there;
The merry shout — oh! whiles we greet
To think we'll hear nae mair!

For they are a' wide scatter'd now.
Some to the Indies gane;
And ane alas! to her lang hame,
Not here we'll meet again.
The kirk yard, the kirk yard,
Wi' flowr's o' every hue;
Shelter'd by the holly's shade,
And the dark sombre yew.

The settin' sun, the settin' sun,
How glorious it gaed doun;
The cloudy splendour raised our hearts
To cloudless skies aboon.
The auld dial, the auld dial,
It tauld how time did pass;
The wintry winds hae dang it doun,
Now hid 'mang weeds and grass.

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Skye Boat Song

Chorus:
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing.
Onward, the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye.

Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar.
Thunderclaps rend the air,
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.

Chorus

Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
Ocean's a royal bed.
Rocked in the deep Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head.

Chorus

Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field.

Chorus

Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men;
Yet, ere the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.

Chorus

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Loch Lomond

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

Chorus:

O ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak' the low road
An' I'll be in Scotland afore ye:
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o Loch Lomond.

We'll meet where we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond,
Where in purple hue the Hieland hills we view,
And the moon looks out frae the gloamin.

Chorus

O brave Charlie Stuart! dear to the true heart.
Wha could refuse thee protection
Like the weeping birch on the wild hillside,
How graceful he looked in dejection!

Chorus

The wild birdies sing and the wild flowers spring.
An' in sunshine the waters are sleepin;
But the broken heart it kens, nae second spring,
Tho' the waefu' may cease frae their greetin'!

Chorus


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Granny's Hielan' Hame

Chorus:
Where the heather bells are blooming
Just outside Granny's door.
Where as laddies there we played in
The days of long ago.
Neath the shadow of Ben Bhragie and
Golspie's loudly stane,
How I wished that I could see my
Granny's Hielan' hame.

Away in the Hielands
There stands a wee hoose
And it stands on the breast of the brae.
Where we played as laddies
Sae long long ago,
And it seems it was just yesterday.

Chorus

I can still see old Granny,
A smile on her face,
As sweet as the heather dew,
When she kissed me good-bye,
Wi' a tear in her eye,
And said 'Laddie may God bless you'.

Chorus

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Bonnie Strathyre

There's meadows in Lanark and mountains in Skye.
And pastures in Hielands and Lowlands forbye:
But there's nae greater luck that the heart could desire
Than to herd the fine cattle in Bonnie Strathyre.
O, it's up in the morn and awa' to the hill,
When the lang simmer days are sae warm and sae still
Till the peak o' Ben Voirlich is girdled wi' fire,
And the evenin' fa's gently on bonnie Strathyre.

Then there's mirth in the sheiling and love in my breast,
When the sun is gane doun and the kye are at rest:
For there's mony a prince wad be proud to aspire
To my winsome wee Maggie, the pride o Strathyre.
Her lips are like rowans in ripe simmer seen.
And mild as the starlight the glint o' her e'en:
Far sweeter her breath than the scent o' the briar,
And her voice is sweet music in bonnie Strathyre.

Set Flora by Colin, and Maggie by me,
And we'll dance to the pipes swellin' loudly and free,
Till the moon in the heavens climbing higher and higher
Bids us sleep on fresh brackens in bonnie Strathyre.
Though some in the touns o' the Lawlands seek fame
And some will gang sodgerin' far from their hame;
Yet I'll aye herd my cattle, and bigg my ain byre.
And love my ain Maggie in bonnie Strathyre.

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Annie Laurie

Maxwellton braes are bonnie,
Where early fa's the dew,
And 'twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true.
Gave me her promise true,
Which ne'er forgot will be,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doun and dee.

Her brow is like the snawdrift,
Her neck is like the swan,
Her face it is the fairest,
That e'er the sun shone on:
That e'er the sun shone on,
And dark blue is her e'e,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I'd lay me doun and dee.

Like dew on the gowan lying,
Is the fa' o' her fairy feet:
And like winds in summer sighing,
Her voice is low and sweet:
Her voice is low and sweet,
She's a' the world to me,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I'd lay me doun and dee.


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Amazing Grace

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fear relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares.
We have already come.
Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing Gods praise
Than when we first begun.

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Ae Fond Kiss

Ae fond kiss and then we sever
Ae fareweel, alas for ever,
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted.
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy:
But to see her was to love her:
Love but her, and love for ever.
Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted.
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee.
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

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