Author: David Gilfillan

I’m leaving the fishin’, the life I have known
The battle with nature that nobody won
For the fish stocks are dwindlin’ and the shoals hard to find
I’m leaving the fishin’, I’ve made up my mind

Chorus.

Farewell tae the Haven
My heart it is sad
The drifters I’m leavin’
Tae work on the land

My faither worked drifters, my grandfaither tae
Ma brother’s a skipper on the Elena Mae
And I worked at the fishin’, just as soon as I could
So leavin’s no easy, the sea’s in my blood

I’ll miss the wee boats though, my thoughts are there yet
Wi’ the lads on the Jeannie, haulin’ the nets
We worked hard together, we laughed hard as well
Cursin’ the weather and ridin’ the swell

I’ll work in the wire mill, it’s a good job, they say
I’ll start and I’ll finish the same time every day
The money is constant and my wife she seems pleased
But I’ll miss the fishin’ and I’ll miss the sea

As I walked down the Broadway
One evening last July
I met a maid who asked me trade
And a sailor lad says I

Chorus:
Away Santee
My Dear Annie
Oh, you New York girls
Can’t you dance the polka?

To Tiffany’s I took her
I didn’t mind expense
I bought her a pair of gold earrings
And they cost me fifteen cents

And she says, “You Limejuice sailor
Now see me home you may”
But when we reached her cottage door
She this to me did say

My flash man he’s a Yankee
With his hair cut short behind
He wears a pair of black sea-boots
And he sails in the Blackball Line

And He’s homeward bound this evening
And with me he will stay
So get a move on, sailor-boy
Get cracking on your way

I kissed her hard and proper
Before her flash man came
So fare thee well, you Bowery girl
I know your little game

And then I wrapped me glad rags round me
And to the docks did steer
I will never court another girl
I’ll stick to rum and beer

I joined a Yankee blood-boat
And sailed away next morn
Don’t mess around with women boys
You’re safer ’round Cape Horn

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.

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

We twa hae paidl’d i’ 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 gude-willy waught,
For auld lang syne.

(Last chorus change Joe to dear.)

Oh by yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where we two have passed so many blithesome days
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

Chorus

O ye’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road
And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

It’s there that we parted on yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side o’ Ben Lomond
Where in purple hue, the Heiland hills we view
And the sun setting down in the gloamin’

Where the wee bird may sing and the wild flowers spring
And in sunshine the waters are sleeping:
The broken heart will ken nae second spring again
Though resigned we might be while we’re grievin’

Chorus.

Come now gather now, here where the flowers grow
White is the blossom as the snow on the ben
Hear now, freedom’s call, we’ll make a solemn vow
Now by the roses o’ Prince Charlie

Fight again at Bannockburn yer battleaxe tae wield
Fight wi yer grandsires on Flodden’s bloody field
Fight at Culloden, the Bonnie Prince tae shield
Fight by the roses o’ Prince Charlie

Spirits o’ the banished, in far an’ distant lands
Carved out the new world wi’ sweat, blood an’ hand
Return now in glory an’ on the silver sand
Fight by the roses o’ Prince Charlie

Tak’ yer strength fae the green fields that blanket peat and coal
Ships fae the Clyde have a nation in their hold
The water of life, some men need tae mak’ them bold
Black gold and fishes fae the sea, man

I left the banks o winding Dee and laughs o Bonnie green
Where birds sang blithe through ilka tree and flooers bloomed fair atween.
As I gaed down by brig o Dee just as the sun gaed doon,
A lassie sang sae merrily amang the heather broon.

CHORUS: Though Cairn o Mount is bleak and bare, and cauld is Clochnaben,
I’d rather meet my Donald there than be fair Scotland’s queen.

I jumpit off my dappled grey; I walked doon by her side.
Said, lassie, I hae lost my way amang yer muirs sae wide.
Yet leeze me o yer bonnie face, yer een sae bonnie blue.
The langest day I’d blithely spare(?) tae be alane wi you.

Bonnie Lassie gang wi me and leave this could rife glen

O’ a’ yir ken ye’ll hae degree, wi wealth baith butt an ben

In silks and satins, busket’s brae and ribbons for yer hair

And maids tae answer tae ye ca’ how could ye wish for Mair

O bonnie lassie, think o me; my lands stretch far and wide.
I’ve gowd in banks; I’ve ships at sea, sae will ye be my bride?
My faither left me lairdships twa, a hoose at my command,
And I’ll mak ye lady oer them a’ if ye’ll gie me yer hand.

I flung aside my lowland coat, kamed doon my yella hair,
Cried leeze me on, leal bonnie Bess; we meet tae pairt nae mair.
Nae langer Donald o the glen, I’m laird ayont the Dee,
And a hairt that proved thee forrit syne, I’ll aye prove true to thee.

Just down the street beside that red neon light
That’s where I met my baby on one hot summer night
He was the tender and I ordered a beer
It’s been forty years and I’m still sat here

I can see the sun’s settin’ fast
And just like they say nothing good ever lasts
Goodnight and kiss me goodbye but hold on to your lover
Cause your heart’s Gonna cry

Chorus

Goodnight and say goodbye to our town, to our town
Can’t you see the sun’s settin’ down on our town, on our town
Goodnight

It’s there I met my baby’s and I had my first kiss
Walked down Main Street in the cold morning mist
Over there is where I bought my first car
It turned over once now it won’t go far

And I can see the sun settin’ fast
And just like they say nothing good ever lasts
Goodnight and kiss me goodbye but hold on to your lover
‘Cause your heart’s gonna to die


I sat on the porch and watch the lightning-bugs fly
But I can’t see too well, for tears in my eyes
I’m leaving tomorrow but I don’t want to go
I love you my town, you’ll always live in my soul

O flower of Scotland when will we see your like again
That fought and died for your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward Tae think again

The hills are bare now and autumn leaves lie thick and still
O’er land that is lost now which those so dearly held
And stood against him Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward tae think again

Those days are passed now and in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now and be the nation again
That stood against him Proud Edward’s army
And sent him homeward tae think again

Bonnie bessie logan she’s handsome young and fair
And oh the very wind that blows it lingers in her hair
She’s lithesome young and lovely as she comes o’er the lea
But bonnie bessie logan was owre young for me

Bonnie bessie logan the lads all lo’ed her style
And all come on afore her tae win her lovin’ smile
I fain would be among them but och that canna be
For bonnie bessie logan was owre young for me

Bonnie bessie logan she stole my heart awa’
And when i think upon her the tears doon softly fa’
For noo i lie wi’ this ain until the day i die
For bonnie bessie logan was owre young for me