Author: David Gilfillan

North Sea Gas. (Words and music D. Gilfillan)

Let us dwell for a moment on the riches from the sea

From the fish the oil and the gas

And the men who have worked upon the trawlers and the rigs

From the first light of the day unto the last

Chorus

So lets raise a glass to the north sea gas

To the men who bring it home to you and me

For the people of today its a gift from the past

From the fields far below the Northern sea

Far from shore at west cove this treasures does emerged

From the deep given heat and the might

That keeps the wheels a turning And a strong flame a burning

An asset to the nation shining bright

Chorus

So lets raise a glass to the north sea gas

To the men who bring it home to you and me

For the people of today its a gift from the past

From the fields far below the Northern sea

For the smelters the factories The office and the home

For the people be them young be them old

For the nations future for the rich and for the poor

For the people to have and to hold

Double chorus

So lets raise a glass to the north sea gas

To the men who bring it home to you and me

For the people of today its a gift from the past

From the fields far below the Northern sea

Sweet Eleanor. (Words D. Gilfillan.. Music. Doyle & Swan)

She was just four years old when she was passed from the train

By a kind and pretty girl she never knew her name

And they walked hand in hand on that bright summers day

To a camp just by Belsen where they were told they’d have to stay

Her Mother wasn’t well she was kept to he rear

Where she cradled Eleanor all huddled in fear

And Eleanor would dream in the dark lonely nights

Of her soft gentle kiss that put her world to rights

Chorus

Oh Sweet Eleanor may you rest in peace

May the lords arms enfold you in your eternal sleep

May your life be remembered for the pain that you bore

May the shame of your death be recalled for evermore

It didn’t last to long for sweet Eleanor

For the pain and the suffering she had little strength for

On o cold April night back in nineteen forty four 

She closed her eyes said goodbye to the world, Sweet Eleanor

There’s no fancy gravestone to tell where she lay

There’s no record no photograph to mark her short stay

For she’s one of many more who lie dead among the trees

But for now and evermore sweet Eleanor will be free

May your life be remembered for the pain that you bore

May the shame of your death be recalled for evermore.

.

Chorus

If you don’t believe Di Vinci come along and I’ll convince ye

I’ll tell you o’ some history that will thrill ye ta the bone

There’s Celtic christian, pagan rites, there’s masons and their’s Templar knights

Come to Rosslyn chapel for it’s written there in stone

.

It’s a fascinating engagement to be told of things so ancient

Laid out in fine arrangement come along and have a look

You can do it at a saunter as around the place ye wander

It will make you think and ponder, someone should write a book !!

.Chorus.

There are green men growing old as the seasons do unfold

Telling stories yet untold make of it what you wish

There are theory’s written of the craft some that are plainly daft 

Other’s that will make you laugh, most of them are rubbish

.Churus.

You may think it all authentic or you may be a sceptic

Or simply enjoy the rhetoric in tales of days gone by

You may seek the holy grail and your hotfoot on it’s trail

And your thinking you may prevail, well at least you can give it a try

.Chorus.

Here’s something I mistook cause if you care to look

They’re selling Dan Browns book in the shop at Rosslyn Chapel

His writing was a sin It’s enough to make you grin

By Christ they’re packing the tourist in, so blasphemy nae hassle 

.Chorus

There are Europeans and Asians and folk from every nation

Chinese and Japanese stand beneath the roof of stars

There are upset theologians, Gregorians and historians

Some of them Singaporeans, there’s bus loads coming frae Mars

.Chorus

So you’ve read it in the papers about the Rosslyn capers

Scrolls and secret chambers hidden somewhere underground

It’s a repository full of Allegory covering each and every category

I state it categorically “There’s secrets still to be found” 

Chorus.

Haul away. (words and music D. Gilfillan.)

Chorus.

Haul away haul away steady as we go

It’s a hard way to earn your pay

Breaking your back to haul in the catch

It’s haul away haul away 

.

It’s a man’s job you know and you’ll learn as you go 

The lessons you’ll never forget

For there’s no place to cower when the weather turns sour

And your working the dark rolling deck

.

It’s old Danny’s last trip he’s calling it quits

It’s his last time out with the crew

Thou the seas in his veins his body’s in pain

Nothing else for an old man to do

.

My grandad was a fisherman so was my dad

I’ve spent my life working the sea

My laddies no keen say’s it’s no his scene

Just the way that things seem to be

.

It was hard in the past but it’s just as hard noo

We remember the days gone bye

But the fish are near gone thou we’re still fishing on

We’ll be hauling these nets till we die.

Oh Montrose oh Montrose 

They say that ye dance well

There are those who will never rest

Until ye dance in hell

.

At Tippermuir and Aberdeen

They remember you where there

On Alford and on Auldearn muir

Ye played them awfy sair

.

The bold Argyle he rued the day

On the Inverlochy field

When ye chased him frae the castle

And yer fate was surely sealed

.

Ye held this land within yer hand

North South East and West

Six thousand men on Kilsyth field

Ye left them their to rest

.

In Leslie ye met yer match

In the rout of Philiphaugh 

And Invercarron saw the end 

On that bloody field of gore

.

Aye there ye stand on gallows high

In Edinburgh toon

And yer enemies in the high street thrang

Tae see ye tumbling doon

.

Oh Montrose oh Montrose 

They say that ye dance well

There are those who will never rest

Until ye dance in hell

.

Oh Montrose oh Montrose 

They sae that your in hell

If there’s any man who surely can

You’ll be dancing there as well

T’was tae Edinburgh toon frae the heilands that I came

To prosper in business Calum Ross was my name

In a fine house in the Canongate I took myself a room

midst the titled and the gentry of Edinburgh Toon

With a letter of introduction and small amount of gold

It was my about to make my mark I was young and I was bold

I flattered the lady’s and I made fun with the gents

soon my presence was requested to all the fine events

But I tired o’ the gentry being a lad o’ the land 

the dining and the wining it all became so bland

I started roving out to the Cowgate and West Port

Bad behaviour and bad company I started to court

Down in the howff’s there was music there was fun

And I soon became acquainted with the ale and the rum

Midst the frolicking and gambling by fate or just by chance

It was there that we met “how we laughed how we danced”

Chorus’

She riled me she beguiled me she robbed me of my sense

She teased me she pleased me I had no defence

I was lost like a fool I didn’t even care

O that wild gypsy child with the long raven hair

I knew from the first she’d be the ruin of me 

Her form was firm and perfect her hair was wild and free

As I lay down beside her night after night

She drank of my spirit and she took all my fight

Being weakened by the drink being drained of my soul

I was lost in a half world I was out of control

And the money that I squandering was not of my own

It belonged to the Laird it was only a loan

To Mary Kings close for rooming we upped and we went

Fleeing my fine lodgings for fear of the rent 

She taught me all the sleekit ways of show to steal a purse

On the day that I met the girl I was surly cursed

So the thieving an the robbing it soon became our way

We were out about our evil work by night and every day

But we would gamble our spoil if not we’d drink it dry

As we became more desperate as each day went by

Chorus

So down by the west bow on a dreich wintry night

Was there a drunken merchant came into our sight

We would rob him of his money and things we could exchange

In that moment of madness my life would be changed

Well I hit him to hard that’s easy now to tell

For he staggered fell and died by the old bow well

She snatched his money bag and took off like a Hare

I was wrestled to the Ground and taken then and there

Now I’m rotting away in the old tollbooth cell

In the vile dark and damp with rats straight from hell

Being fed on nothing more than water and some bread

Found guilty of murder I’ll be hung until I’m dead

In my dreams every night I still see her smile

O’ god save the man who meets that devil’s own child

I wish I had stayed amongst the heather and the broom

Far far away from old Edinburgh toon

Doonie Burn (Words and music D. Gilfillan)

Chorus

Where Donnie burn brak’s o’re the lee

Where it’s waters run baith clear and free

Ti’s there I wish and lang tae be

With my Ain true love who waits for me

.

We saw the small birds on the wing

And heard them joyfully sing

As they called in the days of spring

The morning air did ring

.

Was there I spent such happy hour

With you my fairest flo’er

The lang warm summer days o’ grace

We spent in loves sweet embrace

.

I rue the day I kissed your hand 

And left your fathers land

I vowed my fortune I would find

Marched of to war sae young sae blind

.

I fought wi ah the courage true

So I’d return to you

But I fell amidst the battles roar

On Flodden’s field of blood and gore

.

Our times have past but there’s times tae come

There’s things that will be done

It is by the lords own decree

I cannot spend that time with thee

Back on The Road (words and music D.Gilfillan)

With your sweet words you stole my heart

But I should have known right from the start

That you would tear my world apart “my love”

Heaven knows you made me cry

I cross my heart and I hope to die

Never thought we could say goodbye “My love”

Chorus

Oh it’s good to be moving on

There ain’t no moss on this rolling stone

I’m back on the road where I belong again

I guess I’m not the settling kind

Im leaving all your lies behind

Your out of sight and your out of my mind “My love”

This crazy world goes round and round

And I don’t know just where I’m bound

So send my mail to the lost and found “My love”

Chorus

Oh it’s good to be moving on

There ain’t no moss on this rolling stone

I’m back on the road where I belong again

Oh the road is long it just goes on and on and on and on

There’s friends to keep and there’s friends to lose

So I’ll be careful when I chose

Ain’t staying here to be abused “My Love”

And as I go I’ll wave goodbye 

No breaking heart no wrenched sigh

For I won’t be the one who’ll cry “My love”

Chorus

Oh it’s good to be moving on

There ain’t no moss on this rolling stone

I’m back on the road where I belong again

I should have known right from the start

You’d be the one to break my heart

You’ve gone and torn my world apart “My love”

Double Chorus

Oh it’s good to be moving on

There ain’t no moss on this rolling stone

I’m back on the road where I belong again

Oh the road is long it just goes on and on and on and on

The Fields O’ Rosslyn (Words and music D. Gilfillan)

.

There came the word, they were abroad 

Segrave had crossed the border

We’ll ride through the night and give them fight

John Comyn gave the order

They found their foe near the riverside

Asleep perhaps a dreaming 

Fraser led his men into the charge

Their battle cries a screaming

.

Chorus

Three times they fought Three times they won

Thrice claimed the day at Rosslyn 

Rosslyn Rosslyn 

Thrice claimed the day at Rosslyn

.

Then they heard the cry “they come again” 

So stand readied for the fight

Take up your swords your bows and spears

And face the English might

On Langhill brae they made their stand 

As Neville joined the field 

But the Scottish bows dealt them deadly blows 

And the English army reeled 

.

They turned to the north to flee the bows

As they ran and rode in terror

They became entrapped by the burns steep banks 

And there began the slaughter

It was hand to hand as the battle raged 

They fought with sword and dagger 

With so many dead the burn ran red 

In the deathly hellish clamour 

.

Blooded and weary o’ the fray 

When sir Mantons force drew near 

When they knelt and bowed their heads to pray.

A fiery cross appeared 

Though English charge was fierce and bold

With new hearts the Scots were driven

And they pushed and slashed and hewed them down

No quarter asked or given 

.

They slew their captives some do say 

When Sir Manton joined the game 

The Douglas fought on the that day 

many voices make that claim 

But we know for sure that the day was won 

By Fraser, St Clair and the Comyn 

Segrave he fled but the rest lay dead 

On the bloody fields o Rosslyn 

.

Chorus : Then Round up below.

So charge your glass let your voices sing 

Thrice claimed the day at Rosslyn