Category: Lyrics

Chorus

What will a the lads do when Maggie gangs away? 

Oh What will a the lads do when Maggie gangs away? 

There’s no a hert in a this land that doesna dreed the day 

An oh what will a the lads do when Maggie gangs away? 

Young Jock has ta’en the hill for’t a waefu white is he 

Poor Harry’s taen the bed for it an laid him doon tae dee 

An Sandy’s gaen intae the kirk an learnin fast tae pray 

But oh what will the lads do when Maggie gangs away? 

The young Laird o the Langshaw has drunk her health in wine 

The priest has said in confidence the lassie was divine 

An that is mair in maiden’s praise than ony priest should say 

But oh what will the lads do when Maggie gangs away? 

The wailin in oor green glen that day will quaver high 

Twill draw the redbreast frae the wood, the laverock frae the sky 

The faeries frae their beds of dew, will rise an join the lay 

But oh what will the lads do when Maggie gangs away 

The old days have gone that had use for a man

Who supported his lairdship, protecting his land

Who in times of unrest, he would have died for his lord

Now the soldiers of England have taken his broadsword

Chorus 

And there’s fire in the glen, fire in the glen

But no fire in the eyes of our Highland men

And there’s fire in the glen, fire in the glen

But no fire in the eyes of our Highland men

And the laird has a smile for the makers of graves

For the builders of empires and the keepers of slaves

For he kept his great home losing nothing but pride

Though his kinsmen lay huddled along the shoreside

So beware of their banners and the General’s lies

There’s no glory for the poor man, no glittering prize

For we gave all we had, now our homes they fall down

And I cry out “Republic” and allegiance to no crown

The old days have gone that had use for a man

Who supported his lairdship, protecting his land

Who in times of unrest, he would have died for his lord

Now the soldiers of England have taken his broadsword

Our thrissles flourish’d fresh and fair,
And bonnie bloom’d our roses;
But Whigs cam like a frost in June,
An wither’d a’ our posies.

CHORUS
Awa, Whigs, awa!
Awa, Whigs, awa!
Ye’re but a pack o traitor louns,
Ye’ll do nae guid at a’.

Our ancient crowns fa’n in the dust;
Deil blin’ them wi the stoure o’t,
An write their names in the black beuk
Wha gae the Whigs the power o’t!

Our sad decay in church and state
Surpasses my descriving:
The Whigs cam o’er us for a curse,
An we hae done wi thriving.

Grim Vengeance lang has taen a nap,
But we may see him waukin:
Gude help the day when Royal heads
Are hunted like a maukin! 

She really is a beauty queen 

a right wee cracking stoater

And every day I pinch myself 

cause I cannie believe I’ve got her

We’er walking out noo every night 

sometimes tae the pictures

And ah ma mates are asking me 

does she have any sisters

Chorus

She’s a classy lassie wi a slim line chassis

I really think she’s braw

When we went out walking and we started talking 

She stole my heart awa

Classy lassie wi the slim line Chassis 

I’ve been invited tae her house 

To meet her mother and father

She’s told me to behave myself

And no tae start and haver

Watch my p’s and Q’s what knife to use

And dinna start nae bother

But I widna be sae bloody daft 

She’s got a bruiser for a brother

I knew that she fancied me

The day she slapped my lug

A love her using ma pet name

She always calls me plug

I’ve lost ah interest in fitba 

Ma pals they laugh and giggle

But I’m no playing darts or pool

I’m playing slap and tickle.

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 full o’ care.

Chorus. Ye’ll break my heart ye warbling birds

That wanton through the flowery thorn

Ye ‘mind me o’ departed joys

Departed never to return

Oft hae i roved by bonnie doon

To see the rose and woodbine twine

And ilka bird sang o’ its love

And fondly sae did i o’ mine

Wi’ lightsome heart i pulled a rose

Full sweet upon its thorny tree

And my false lover stole my rose

But ah she left the thorn wi’ me

Chorus.

Wha widna Fecht for Charlie?

Wha widna draw the the sword?

Wha widna up an’ rally,                       

At the royal Prince’s word  

         

Think on ancient Scotia’s hero’s

Think on foreign foes repelled

Think on loyal Bruce and Wallace

Wha the proud usurper quelled.

See the northern clans advancing

See Glen Garry and Lochiel

See the brandished broadsword glancing

Highland hearts as true as steel!

Now the prince has raised his banner

Now triumphant is our cause

Now the Scottish lion rallies

Let us strike for Prince and Laws

Chorus.

The water is wide, I can’t cross over

Neither have I wings to fly

Give me a boat  that can carry two

And both shall row, my love and I 

A ship there is and she sails the sea

She’s loaded deep as deep can be

But not so deep as the love I’m in

I know not if I sink or swim

The Water is wide I cannot cross over 

Neither have I the wings to fly

Give me a boat that can carry two

And both shall row my love and I

Oh love be handsome and love be kind

the sweetest flower when first it is new

But love grows old and waxes cold

And fades away like the morning dew

The Water is wide I cannot cross over 

Neither have I the wings to fly

Give me a boat that can carry two

And both shall row my love and I

As I ga’ed oot one morning fair

To view the meadows round

Well there I saw a pretty girl

Come trippin’ o’er the ground

Chorus

Sing blow ye winds in the morning

Blow ye winds aye-o

Clear away the runnin’ gear

And blow, boys, blow

My father has a milk white steed

He keeps it in the stall

It winnae eat it’s hay or corn

And it winnae go at all

I told my tale unto the maid

She laughed right in my face

So I took her off to the horses stall

And I put her in the horses place

She says this is an awful thing

To treat a maiden so

Take off the reigns and halter

And to sea with you I’ll go

She dressed up in her Sunday best

To meet me at the church

But my lugger sailed the night before

And I left her in the lurch

To my fathers farm I can’t go back

For fear she might be there

For the marriage game is not for me

To that I roundly swear

Put a light in the window, your brother’s coming home
Set a meal on the table, your brother’s coming home

He’ll be tired and weary after all these years alone

he’s coming home, your brother’s coming home

Chorus

Coming home to a place they’ve never been

Coming home to a land they’ve never seen                 

Coming home to a family they have never known

All Jock Tamson’s bairns. Are coming home

Take the chain from the door
Your sister’s coming home
Open wide your arms
Your sister’s coming home
Don’t leave her standing there
After all the pain she’s known
She’s coming home,
Your sister’s coming home

He’s been angry and afraid
Your father’s coming home
He’s been hounded and betrayed
Your father’s coming home
And with every act of kindness
A seed of hope is sown
He’s coming home.
Your father’s coming home

Bring her in from the cold
Your mother’s coming home
Sit her down by the fire
Your mother’s coming home
Make her warm, make her welcome
Before the chance is gone
She’s coming home, your mother’s coming home

From New Zealand and Australia
Your family’s coming home
And from Canada and America
Your family’s coming home
To hearth and the Homeland
That they have never known
They’re coming home,
Your family’s coming home.

Last verse changed from original with writers blessing.

O’er The Water Tae Charlie.  Trad. 

Come boat me o’er, come row me o’er

Come boat me o’er to Charlie

I’ll gie John Ross another bawbee

Tae ferry me o’er to Charlie

Chorus.

We’ll o’er the water, we’ll o’er the sea

We’ll o’er the water to Charlie

Come weel, come woe, we’ll gather and go

And live or die wi Charlie

I swear by moon and stars so bright

And sun that glances early

If I had twenty thousand lives

I’d gie them a’ for Charlie

We’ll o’er the water, we’ll o’er the sea

We’ll o’er the water to Charlie

Come weel, come woe, we’ll gather and go

And live or die wi Charlie

Aince I had sons but now I hae nane

I bred them toiling sairly

And I would bear them a’ again

And lose them a’ for Charlie

We’ll o’er the water, we’ll o’er the sea

We’ll o’er the water to Charlie

Come weel, come woe, we’ll gather and go

And live or die wi Charlie