Author: David Gilfillan

I am a weaver a Calton Weaver, I am a rash and a rovin’ blade
I’ve got sill’er in my pooches and I’ll gang an’ follow the roving trade.

Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky. Whisky, Whisky Nancy-o!

As I went in by Glasgow City, Nancy Whisky I chanced to smell,
I went in, sat doon beside her, seven long years I loo’ed her well.

Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky. Whisky, Whisky Nancy-o!

The more I kissed her the more I lov’ed her.
The more I kissed her the more she smiled.
Til I forgot my mither’s teachin’, Nancy soon had me beguiled.

Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky. Whisky, Whisky Nancy-o!

When I rose early morning in the morning to quench my thirst it was my need
I tried to rise but I wisna able, Nancy had me by the heid.

Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky. Whisky, Whisky Nancy-o!

I’m going back to the Carlton weaving I’ll surely make those shuttles fly

And curses be on Nancy whisky for Nancy whisky has ruined I

Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky. Whisky, Whisky Nancy-o!

So come all you weavers, Calton Weavers
Come all you weavers where ere you be.
Beware of Whisky Nancy Whisky, She’ll ruin you as she ruined me.

Whisky, Whisky, Nancy Whisky. Whisky, Whisky Nancy-o!

I was born of Scottish parents one day when I was young
That’s why the Scottish accent is my native tongue
I was a pretty baby, my mother she did vow
The girls all ran to kiss me – I wish they’d do it now

When I was only six months old the girls would handle me
They’d clutch me to their bosoms and bounce me on their knees
They’d rock me in my cradle if I made a row
They’d tickle me and cuddle me – I wish they’d do it now

At sixteen months as fine a lad as ever could be seen
The girls would all follow me when I went to the green
They’d make a chain of buttercups, place it on my brow
And they’d roll me in the clover – I wish they’d do it now

The eastern girls would go with me to swim when it was mild
Down to the river we would go, splash around awhile
They’d throw the water over me, duck me like a cow
Then they’d rub me nice all over – I wish they’d do it now

Well it’s awful lonely for a lad to live a single life
I think l’ll go to the dance tonight and find myself a wife
Oh have got six brindled pigs, likewise one fat sow

they’ll be plenty love and bacon for the girl who loves me now.

For the girl who loves me now for the girl who loves me now

They’ll be plenty love an bacon for the girl who loves me now.

When these shoes were new
It was ‘How do you do’
It was whisky and telling of tales
And when my shirt was clean
I was there to be seen
I had clear eyes and my smile never failed

Chorus

All of my brothers that I met on the way
They were drinking by night, 
They were drinking by day
I’ll restore to my eyes
What was clear and was right
Honey take me out drinking tonight
Oh, take me out drinking tonight

Bluebells on matches
And stains on the table
Oh the sweet smell of the luscious woodbine
Oh Mr MacEwan
You will be my ruin
Oh I see it but I really don’t mind

Now I’m still smiling through
Though there’s stains on my shoes
The right it is heavy and the left it is right
If it’s left up to you
Then I know what we’ll do
Oh honey take me out drinking tonight
Oh take me out drinking tonight
Oh honey take me out drinking tonight

I have seen snow that fell in May

And I have seen rain on cloudless days

Somethings are always bound to change

There ain’t no ash will burn

.

Love is a precious thing I’m told

It burns just like West Virginia coal

But when the fire dies down it’s cold

There ain’t no ash will burn

.

You say this life is not your lot

Well I can’t be something that I’m not

We can’t stoke a fire that we ain’t got

There ain’t no ash will burn

.

In every life there comes a time

Where there are no more tears to cry

We must leave something dear behind

There ain’t no ash will burn

.

There is one lesson I have learned

There ain’t no ash will burn

Roch the wind in the clear day’s dawin

Blaws the cloods heelster-gowdie ow’r the bay,

But there’s mair nor a roch wind blawin

Through the great glen o’ the warld the day.

It’s a thocht that will gar oor rottans

 A’ they rogues that gang gallus, fresh and gay –

Tak the road, and seek ither loanins

For their ill ploys, tae sport and play

.

Nae mair will the bonnie callants

Mairch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw,

Nor wee weans frae pit-heid and clachan

Mourn the ships sailin’ doon the Broomielaw.

Broken faimlies in lands we’ve herriet,

Will curse Scotland the Brave nae mair, nae mair;

Black and white, ane til ither mairriet,

Mak the vile barracks o’ their maisters bare

.

So come all ye at hame wi’ Freedom,

Never heed whit the hoodies croak for doom.

In your hoose a’ the bairns o’ Adam

Can find breid, barley-bree and painted room.

When MacLean meets wi’s freens in Springburn

A’ the roses and geans will turn tae bloom,

And a black boy frae yont Nyanga

Dings the fell gallows o’ the burghers doon.

Chorus

All of the hard days are gone 

It’s all beer and whisky and songs from now on

We’ll laugh at the darkness and dance until dawn

All of the hard days are gone

.

We’re all safe and warm here my friends 

The Bad times are over, They won’t come again

Raise up you voices and givre us a song

All of the hard days are gone.

.

Well, life has been cloudy and gray

Take the bad memories and put them away

The sun has come out We’ve waited so long

All of the hard days are gone

.

So raise up your glasses and sing

All the hard days are gone  Sure they don’t mean a thing

If you want to be happy, We’ll take you along

All of the hard days are gone.

It happened at last Whitson tide
I tired o’ ma place;
So I gaed up tae Insch tae fee,
Ma fortune for tae chase.

Chorus (repeated after each verse):
And sing airy irrity addy
And sing airy irrity an

I met wi’ Adam Mitchell
And tae fee we did presume.
He’s a fairmer up Kinethmont way
At a place ca’d Sleepytoon.

“If ye and I agree,” said he,
“I’ll get the fairest play,
For I never bid ma servants work
mair nor twelve’oors a day.”

“If a’ be true ye tell tae me
I think the place might suit.”
Says I, “I’ll gang wi’ you
although ye are an ugly brute.”

Next order was tae bed at nine
And never leave the toon,
And ilka time we left it
We’d be fined half a croon.

But we took little heed o’ that
And oftimes took the pass,
Sometimes tae buy tobacco
And sometimes tae court a lass.

Well ma neighbour was fined many a croon
But never lost the hairt,
And I maself was fined a croon
For riding in the cairt.

And noo the time has come at last
And we hae ah gang free
And will gang doon tae Tilford toon
And hae ourselves a spree

Maybe we’ll see old Mitchell there,
Suppin’ at his brose.
I’ll gie him a len’ o’ ma hankie
For tae wipe his snotty nose.

Oh, this evening’s passed so quickly, 
And the music’s almost done; 
We’ve heard the piper and the fiddler, 
The singer and his song. 
The time has come for us to leave you; 
One last song before we go; 

Chorus.
So button up and aye be cheery 
Tak a dram afore ye go. 
Button up and aye be cheery, 
Tak a dram afore ye go.

For this night we will remember, 
And the music’s been just fine; 
But the cold, grey land of Caithness 
Can be cruel and unkind. 
We must bid fareweel and leave you; 
Travel through the ice and snow; 

So goodnight and God be with you . 
And watch over you until 
We can a’ meet here thegither, 
And our glasses we will refill. 
We’ll drink a health tae absent friends 
And make the beer and whisky flow, 

As I come in by Auchindoun,
Just a wee bit frae the toun,
To the Hi’lands I was bound
To view the Haughs of Cromdale.
I met a man in tartan trews,
Spiered at him (asked) what was the news,
Quo’ he, “The Hi’land army rues
That e’er we come to Cromdale.”

We were in bed, sir, every man,
When the English host upon us cam;
A bloody battle then began
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.
The English horse they were so rude,
They bathed their hoofs in Hi’land blood,
But our brave clans, they boldly stood
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.

“But, alas! We could no longer stay,
And o’er the hills we come away,
Sore we do lament the day
That e”er we come to Cromdale.
“Thus the great Montrose did say:
Hi’land man show me the way
I will over the hills this day,
To view the Haughs of Cromdale.

“They were at their dinner, every man,
When great Montrose upon them cam;
A second battle then began
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.
The Grant, Mackenzie and M’Ky,
As Montrose they did espy,
Then they fought most valiantly
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.

The Gordons boldly did advance,
The Frasers fought with sword and lance,
The Grahams they made the heads to dance,
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.

The McDonalds they returned again,
The Camerons did our standard join,
McIntosh played a bloody game
Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.

And the loyal Stewarts, wi’ Montrose,
So boldly set upon their foes,
Laid them low wi’ Hi’land blows
Laid them low on Cromdale.
Of twenty-thousand Cromwell’s men,
A thousand fled to Aberdeen,
The rest of them lie on the plain,
There on the Haughs of Cromdale.

Of twenty-thousand Cromwell’s men,
A thousand fled to Aberdeen,
The rest of them lie on the plain,
There on the Haughs of Cromdale.