Come all you lads of high renown 

that will hear of a fair young maiden
And she roved out on a summer’s day 

for to view the soldier’s parading
They march so bold and they look so gay
The colours fine and the bands did play
And it caused young Mary for to say
“I’ll wed you me gallant soldier”

She viewed the soldiers on parade 

and as they stood at their leisure
And Mary to herself did say: 

“At last I find my treasure” 
But oh how cruel my parents must be
To banish my true love away from me
Well I’ll leave thеm all and I’ll go with thee
“i’ll wed you my Gallant soldier”

Chorus

They march so bold and they look so gay
The colours fine and the bands did play
And it caused young Mary for to say
“I’ll wed you me gallant soldier”

Oh Mary dеar, your parents’ love 

I pray don’t be unruly
For when you’re in a foreign land, 

believe you rue it surely
Perhaps in battle I might fall
From a shot from an angry cannonball
And you’re so far from your daddy’s hall
Be advised by a gallant soldier”

Chorus

Oh I have fifty guineas in right gold 

likewise a hearth that’s burning
And I’d leave them all and I’d go 

with you me bold undaunted soldier
So don’t say no but let me go
And I will face the daring foe
And we’ll march together to and fro
And I’ll wed you, my gallant soldier”

Chorus

And when he saw her loyalty 

and Mary so true-hearted
He said: “Me darling, married we’ll be

and nothing but death will part us
And when we’re in a foreign land
I’ll guard you, darling, with my right hand
And hopes that God might stand a friend
With Mary and her gallant soldier”

Double Chorus

Jock Hawk’s Adventures in Glasgow

Tae glesca toon I came ane nicht to spend my penny fee;

A bonnie wee lass consented tae gie me company

Chorus

Tum a hi tum a-do, Tum a hi tum day,

Tum a hi tum a-do, Tum a hi tum day

weel we wandered doun Jamaica street doun by the broomielaw,

the organ Lads played rich and sweet and the fiddlers een an twa.

Chorus

We went intae a tavern and I ca’d up some gin

And a’ the folk aboot the place they smiled as we come in

Chorus

We hadnae been in half an hour when in came half a score

O’ sailor lads and queans sae braw I never saw before

Chorus

They drank the malt, they drank the gin they drank it a’ rict free

And every ane aye drank success to the bonnie wee lass and me.

Chorus

The night did pass wi’ mirth and sang till day was drawin’ near

And then the boozey bosun cried, “All hands on deck appear!”

Chorus

The lassies gave a parting kiss the lads they said “Goodbye”

The hindmost yin as he went oot says, “Jock ye’ ve a’ to pay.”

chorus

weel they’ve tain fae me ma watch and chain and theyve taen fat me ma knife

I’m quite suprised they hanna tain ma wee bit Thirst o’ life

I cam’ into the world a bairn sae naked and sae bare

I‘ll gae’ oot the same frae Glesca Toon and I’ll never gang nae mair.

Will ye go tae Sheriffmuir,
Bauld John o’Innisture, 
There tae see the noble Mar
And his Hieland laddies.
A’ the true men o’ the north,
Angus, Huntly, and Seaforth
Scourin’ on tae cross the Forth
Wi’ their white cockadies.

Chorus
Will ye go tae Sheriffmuir,

Bauld John o’Innisture, 

There tae see the noble Mar 

And his Hieland laddies.

There ye’ll see the banners flare;
There ye’ll hear the bagpipes rare,
And the trumpets’ deadly blare
Wi’ the cannons’ rattle.
There ye’ll see the bauld McCraws,
Camerons and Clanranald’s raws
And a’ the clans, wi’ loud huzzas,
Rushin’ tae the battle.

There ye’ll see the noble Whigs,
A’ the heroes o’ the brigs,
Raw hides and withered wigs,
Ridin’ in array, man.
Ri’en hose and raggit hools,
Sour milk and girnin’ gools,
Psalm-beuks and cutty-stools,
We’ll see ne’er mair, man.

Will ye go tae Sheriffmuir,
Bauld John o’ Innisture,
Sic a day and sic an hour
Ne’er was in the North, man.
Siccan sights will there be seen,
And gin some be nae mista’en,
Fragrant gales will come bedeen,
Frae the waters o’ Forth, man.

Mary and the Soldier (Trad)

Come all you lads of high renown 

that will hear of a fair young maiden
And she roved out on a summer’s day  for to view the soldier’s parading
They march so bold and they look so gay
The colours fine and the bands did play
And it caused young Mary for to say
“I’ll wed you me gallant soldier”

She viewed the soldiers on parade 

and as they stood at their leisure
And Mary to herself did say. At last I find my treasure” 
But oh how cruel my parents must be
To banish my true love away from me
Well I’ll leave thеm all and I’ll go with thee
“i’ll wed you my Gallant soldier”

Chorus

They march so bold and they look so gay
The colours fine and the bands did play
And it caused young Mary for to say
“I’ll wed you me gallant soldier”

Oh Mary dеar, your parents’ love 

I pray don’t be unruly
For when you’re in a foreign land, believe you rue it surely
Perhaps in battle I might fall
From a shot from an angry cannonball
And you’re so far from your daddy’s hall
Be advised by a gallant soldier”

Chorus

Oh I have fifty guineas in right gold 

likewise a hearth that’s burning
And I’d leave them all and I’d go with you me bold undaunted soldier
So don’t say no but let me go
And I will face the daring foe
And we’ll march together to and fro
And I’ll wed you, my gallant soldier”

Chorus

And when he saw her loyalty 

and Mary so true-hearted
He said: “Me darling, married we’ll be and nothing but death will part us
And when we’re in a foreign land
I’ll guard you, darling, with my right hand
And hopes that God might stand a friend
With Mary and her gallant soldier”

Young Toshy Law’s a huntin gane
And gallant is his steed
For he’s taen the heart of Lady March
The fairest maid in Tweed
But the faither he has banished him
For he’s below her station
And Toshy Law has fled to France
To fight for king and nation

Chorus

She’s the Earl of March’s daughter
And the fairest of them aw
But the humble squire o Toshy Law
Has taen her hert awa

Now the lady she has heard the news
That Toshy Law has fled
And the lady’s looking pale and drawn
She’s taen unto her bed
A physician’s came to Neidpath
Aw season she’s been lying
I fear she has a broken heart
I fear my lady’s dying

Now her faither he’s conceded
And he’s won to take the blame
And a messenger has sent away
To fetch her lover hame
And the lady’s feeling better
She’s risen to her feet
And she’s taen a hoose in Peebles toun
Her true love there to meet

But she’s looking tired and pallid
Her cheeks have lost their glow
She’s no the handsome beauty
That she was a year ago
And when Toshy Law to Peebles came
His horse he didn’t tether
He swiftly passed the lady by
And taen her for another

He’s galloped on for Neidpath
To see his love again
He spurs his horse in anguish
But he spurs his horse in vain
For the lady lies in Peebles toun
It’s there she’s passed awa
Her wounded heart no longer beats
For handsome Toshy Law.

….

Tae glesca toon I came ane nicht

To spend my penny fee

A bonnie wee lass consented

To give me company

……

Chorus

Tum a hi tum a-do,

Tum a hi tum day,

Tum a hi tum a-do,

Tum a hi tum day

……

weel we wandered doun Jamaica street

doun by the broomielaw,

the organ Lads played rich and sweet

and the fiddlers een an twa.

…..

We went intae a tavern

and I ca’d up some gin

And a’ the folk aboot the place

They smiled as we come in

…..

We hadnae been in half an hour

When in came half a score

O’ sailor lads and queans sae braw

I never saw before

…..

They drank the malt, they drank the gin

They drank it a’ rict free

And every ane aye drank success

To the bonnie wee lass and me.

…….

The night did pass wi’ mirth and sang

Till day was drawin’ near

And then the boozey bosun cried,

“All hands on deck appear!”

…….

The lassies gave a parting kiss

The lads they said “Goodbye”

The hindmost ane as he went oot

Says, “Jock ye’ ve a’ to pay.”

……

weel they’ve tain fae me ma watch and chain

and theyve taen ae me ma knife

I’m quite suprised they hanna tain 

ma wee bit Thirst o’ life

……..

I cam’ into the world a bairn

Sae naked and sae bare

I‘ll gae’ oot the same frae Glesca Toon

And I’ll never gang nae mair.

…………

Away unto the westward

There’s a place a man should go

Where the fishing’s always easy

And they’ve got no ice or snow

Chorus

But I’ll haul down the sails

Where the bays come together

Bide away the days

On the hills of Isle au Haut

…….

The Plymouth girls are fine

They put their hearts in your hand

And the Plymouth boys are able

First-class sailors every man

…….

And the trouble with old Martir

You can’t try her in a trawler

For those Bay of Biscay swells

They’d roll the head from off your shoulder

……..

The winters drive you crazy

And the fishing’s hard and slow

You’re a damn fool if you stay

But there’s no better place to go

……..

Away unto the westward

There’s a place a man should go

Where the fishing’s always easy

And they’ve got no ice or snow

Scotland’s most popular folk song is “Caledonia ” , says Scots band celebrating 40 years on the road

North Sea Gas, one of Scotland’s best-loved folk groups who have toured the world, reveal that the most popular Scottish song after 40 years is probably “Caledonia”.

The band, who have made 21 albums including over 270 songs and 70 Scottish and Irish tunes, are massively popular in the United States, Europe, and particularly Germany. ‘Fans expect us to play favourites like “Fear A’Bhata” and “Johnny Cope”’ said Dave Gilfillan, the band’s founder-member, ‘although we are continually recording new material and changing our show there is always a request for “Caledonia”.  

From humble beginnings at The White Hart Inn in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket the band’s career has taken them to every part of the world with a regular pre-Covid circuit in Europe and North America. Their experiences include hosting legendary late night shows in the early 80s at the Caley Cinema in Edinburgh with guests such as Hamish Imlach and Johnny Cunningham. Appearing at many of the top folk festivals and sharing stages with Dame Edna Everage, and Gene Pitney, and many more household names over the years. They have also performed in more unusual settings, including Oil Rigs and Colditz Castle!

Paying their dues at every kind of venue in the early years led to theatres and television.  The band’s 21 albums have seen various personnel changes and their 22nd album will be a triple compilation album (featuring new material) to mark the 40th anniversary, Named appropriately “A Long Road” . 

The current North Sea Gas line-up has been the most stable with Gilfillan and fellow band member Ronnie MacDonald working together for twenty years and Grant Simpson joining them 16 years ago.  

Band founder and only original member, Dave Gilfillan said, ‘The album will happen sometime in the near future as the COVID restrictions have not only decimated our touring schedule but lay waste to any plans for recording.’

He is, however, hopeful that North Sea Gas will be able to pick up their hectic schedule again as soon as the pandemic situation allows. ‘We’ve always aimed to provide great entertainment drawing on Scotland’s folk tradition. It’s my feeling that audiences will be more than ready for that. We’re raring to go. That’s the first forty years behind us and there’s plenty more to come.’

NORTH SEA GAS – Hearth & Homeland  Scotdisc CDITV888

The year 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of North Sea Gas. It should have been marked by celebratory tours and other special occasions, but like so many things in that awful year, it didn’t happen, Ah, well! At least we have this 2019 album as an indicator. The band has had quite a number of comings and goings over the years, with Dave Gilfillan being the only constant; what has changed little over the years is the approach that has brought them their popularity. The repertoire here is full of the long-loved elements of Scottish song; a dash of Burns, some of the finest of traditional items such as The Jolly Beggarman, The Rigs O’ Rye and The Water Is Wide, alongside some lesser known modern songs, a set of tunes written and led by the band’s fiddler, Grant Simpson, with the album topped and tailed with Jacobite items. There is a warmth in their harmony singing and some of the lead vocals have a clipped, clear, precise feeling. Every track in imbibed with enthusiasm. It is an approach that has won North Sea Gas a following beyond the usual folk music community as the long list of continental and American tours demonstrates. www.northseagas.co.ukVic Smith This review appeared in Issue 137 of The Living Tradition magazine