T\u2019was tae Edinburgh toon frae the heilands that I came<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To prosper in business Calum Ross was my name<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a fine house in the Canongate I took myself a room<\/p>\n\n\n\n
midst the titled and the gentry of Edinburgh Toon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a letter of introduction and small amount of gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was my about to make my mark I was young and I was bold<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I flattered the lady\u2019s and I made fun with the gents<\/p>\n\n\n\n
soon my presence was requested to all the fine events<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I tired o\u2019 the gentry being a lad o\u2019 the land <\/p>\n\n\n\n
the dining and the wining it all became so bland<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started roving out to the Cowgate and West Port<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bad behaviour and bad company I started to court<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Down in the howff\u2019s there was music there was fun<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And I soon became acquainted with the ale and the rum<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Midst the frolicking and gambling by fate or just by chance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was there that we met \u201chow we laughed how we danced\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chorus\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She riled me she beguiled me she robbed me of my sense<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She teased me she pleased me I had no defence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was lost like a fool I didn\u2019t even care<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O that wild gypsy child with the long raven hair<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I knew from the first she\u2019d be the ruin of me <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her form was firm and perfect her hair was wild and free<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I lay down beside her night after night<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She drank of my spirit and she took all my fight<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being weakened by the drink being drained of my soul<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was lost in a half world I was out of control<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the money that I squandering was not of my own<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It belonged to the Laird it was only a loan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To Mary Kings close for rooming we upped and we went<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fleeing my fine lodgings for fear of the rent <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She taught me all the sleekit ways of show to steal a purse<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the day that I met the girl I was surly cursed<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the thieving an the robbing it soon became our way<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were out about our evil work by night and every day<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we would gamble our spoil if not we\u2019d drink it dry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we became more desperate as each day went by<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chorus<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So down by the west bow on a dreich wintry night<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was there a drunken merchant came into our sight<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We would rob him of his money and things we could exchange<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that moment of madness my life would be changed<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well I hit him to hard that\u2019s easy now to tell<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For he staggered fell and died by the old bow well<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She snatched his money bag and took off like a Hare<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was wrestled to the Ground and taken then and there<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now I\u2019m rotting away in the old tollbooth cell<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the vile dark and damp with rats straight from hell<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being fed on nothing more than water and some bread<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Found guilty of murder I\u2019ll be hung until I\u2019m dead<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my dreams every night I still see her smile<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O\u2019 god save the man who meets that devil\u2019s own child<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wish I had stayed amongst the heather and the broom<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Far far away from old Edinburgh toon
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
T\u2019was 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 … <\/p>\n