(R. Burns arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

Burns tried, in this song, to capture the spirit of the words King Robert the Bruce may have spoken to the troops prior to the Scottish victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Scots, wha ha'e wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victory!
Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach, proud Edward's power-
Chains and slavery!

Wha will be a traitor-knave?
Wha can fill a cowards grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
Wha for Scotland's King and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or freeman fa',
Let him follow me!

By oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in ev'ry foe!
Liberty's in ev'ry blow!-
Let us do or die!

Copyright ©1990 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(Adam McNaughtan)

This song qualifies as a folk song by virtue of the fact that when I first sung it, it was topical - now it's historical! Children were able, in pre-skyscraper days, to be thrown a "jeely piece" (jam sandwich), wrapped in a "poke" (paper bag) from a parent, who would be a maximum of three storeys up. This changed with the advent of multi-storey "flats". Adam McNaughtan masterfully, and humorously, describes the dilemma faced by children when they are playing outside today.

Lyrics unavailable. Copyright owned by Adam Tulloch McNaughtan

(Eric Bogle)

The forerunner to the electric blanket or rubber hot-water bottle, the wee china pig is still affectionately remembered. This song demonstrates that affection but the final verse gives the most accurate view.

Lyrics unavailable. Copyright owned by Campbell, Connelly & Co Ltd.

(Trad. arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

According to legend, if a Scot dies outside of Scotland, his soul will return by the "spirit road" or "low road". Another story tells of how two Jacobite soldiers, captured during Bonnie Prince Charlie's march to Derby, were imprisoned in Carlisle Castle, in the north of England. As a form of torture, they had to share a cell with the knowledge that one would be set free and that the other would be executed the next day. It was the doomed soldier who is said to have written these words to an old tune.

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love were ever wont tae gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

CHORUS
Ye'll tak the high road and I'll tak 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 o' Loch Lomond.

'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep sides o' Ben Lomond
Where, in purple hue, the heiland hills we'd view
And the moon comin' oot in the gloamin'.

CHORUS
Ye'll tak the high road ...

The wee birdies sing and the wild flo'ers spring
And in sunshine the waters are sleepin'
But the broken he'rt it kens nae second spring again
And the waefu' ne'r cease fae their greetin'.

CHORUS
Ye'll tak the high road ...

CHORUS
Ye'll tak the high road ...

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

Copyright ©1990 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(Trad. arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

This song is at least 400 years old. There are claims that it is Scottish, Irish, English and even American! It goes to show that if something's good enough and old enough, anyone will claim it!

The water is wide, I can't cross o'er
Neither have I wings to fly.
Build me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I.

There is a ship and she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep can be
But not so deep as the love I'm in
And I know not how I'd sink or swim.

Oh love is handsome and love is fine
It's like a gem, when first it's new
But love grows old and waxes cold
And fades away like the morning dew

The water is wide, I can't cross o'er
Neither have I wings to fly.
Build me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I.

And both shall row, my love and I.

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(Adam McNaughtan)

Inspired by the book of the same name by Betsy Whyte, this song gives an insight into the life of the travelling people ("gang aboot folk") of north east Scotland in the 20s and 30s. It also tells of their interaction with "scaldies" (town-dwellers who don't live "on the road" in tents, trailers or caravans).

Lyrics unavailable. Copyright owned by Adam Tulloch McNaughtan

(Matt McGinn)

This song reveals a justifiable pride in the land of my birth, but also shows our place in the world and our responsibility to it.

Lyrics unavailable. Copyright owned by Logo Songs Ltd.

(MacLeod/Boulton arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

Written in the 19th Century, 100 years or so after the events it idealistically describes, this song is one of the most popular songs dealing with the Jacobite story.

Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing
Onward! the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to Skye.

Loud the winds howl, loud the winds roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air.
Baffled, our foes stand on the shore,
Follow they will not dare.

CHORUS
Speed bonnie boat...

Many's the man fought on that day,
Well the claymore could wield.
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden field.

CHORUS
Speed bonnie boat...

Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men.
Yet, ere the sword cool in its sheath
Chairlie will come again

CHORUS
Speed bonnie boat...

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(Jim McLean)

Many of our ancestors fled the "Highland Clearances" - times when landowners, for economic, political or other reasons, did not want people on their lands. Some moved to lowland Scotland, but many more fled to new lives in America, Canada and beyond. A tragic time for Highland people, and a way of life, lost forever.

Lyrics unavailable. Copyright owned by Carlin Music Corporation.

(Trad/Scott arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

Written by Lady John Scott, based on verses by William (?) Douglas,
an unsuccessful suitor of Annie Laurie. Both are reckoned to have
borrowed from an older song. Maxwelltown was a village and is now
a suburb of Dumfries, in south west Scotland.

Maxwellton braes are bonnie, where early fa's the dew
And it's there that Annie Laurie gi'ed me her promise true.
Gi'ed me her promise true, which ne'r forgot will be
And for bonnie Annie Laurie, I'd lay me doon and d'e.

Her brow is like the sna' drift, her neck is like the swan
And her face it is the fairest that e'er the sun shone on
That e'er the sun shone on, and dark blue is her e'e
And for bonnie Annie Laurie, I'd lay me doon and d'e.

Like dew on the gowan lying is the fa' o' her fairy feet
And like winds in summer sighing, her voice is low and sweet.
Her voice is low and sweet and she's a' the world tae me
And for bonnie Annie Laurie, I'd lay me doon and d'e.

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(R. Burns arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

An old song, collected, extended, perfected and, ultimately, saved for us by Burns. He set it to a Neil Gow fiddle tune (Major Graham), which, though not well-known, has to be rated as one of Scotland's most beautiful.

Oh, my love's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June
Oh, my love's like a melody
That's sweetly played in tune
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass
Sae deep in love am I
And I will love thee still, my dear
'Til a' the seas gang dry

'Til a' the seas gang dry , my dear
And the rocks melt wi' the sun
I will love the still, my dear
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only love
And fare thee weel a while
And I will come again, my love
'Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile.

And fare thee weel, my only love
And fare thee weel a while
And I will come again, my love
'Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile.

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(Jim Douglas)

Written by a great friend of mine, this song is a gentle reminder that there are always at least two languages in use wherever we are ...the language of the classroom and the language of the playground!

Lyrics unavailable. Copyright owned by Isa Music.

(R. Burns arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

Burns was inspired by the romantic, but tragic story of a young heiress, Peggy Campbell. She had married Captain McDonall M.P., only to find that their "marriage" was not legally binding. He left her with a baby, tattered reputation and a broken heart. A story not uncommon in our times, but who today could write "But my fause lover stole my rose, and ah! he left the thorn wi' me."?

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 fu' o' care!
Ye'll brak ma he'rt, ye warbling bird
That wantons through the flowery thorn:
Thou minds me o' departed joys,
Departed, never to return.

Aft ha'e I roved by bonnie Doon,
Tae see the rose and woodbine twine;
And ilka bird sang o' its love,
And fondly sae did I o' mine;
Wi' lichtsome he'rt I pu'd a rose,
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree;
But my fause lover stole my rose,
And , ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(R. Burns arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

Sent by Burns as a parting gift to Clarinda (Mrs. Agnes McElhose). She followed her husband to Jamaica, never to meet the Bard again. Burns' feelings are best described in this song, but Clarinda's thoughts, expressed in her journal on December the 6th, 1831 (40 years later) also make interesting reading - "This day I can never forget. Parted with Burns in the year 1791, never more to meet in this world. Oh, may we meet in Heaven!"

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever
Ae fareweel, and then forever
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee
Warring sighs and groans, I'll wage thee
Who can say that fortune grieves him
While the star of hope, she leaves him
Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me
Dark despair, around benights me.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy
Naethin' could resist my Nancy
But tae see her was tae love her
Love but her, and love forever.
Had we never loved sae kindly
Had we never loved sae blindly
Never met, or never parted
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest
Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest
Thine be ilka joy and treasure
Peace, enjoyment, love and pleasure.
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee
Warring sighs and groans, I'll wage thee.

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(Trad. arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

A song telling something of the life of smugglers plying their trade between Europe and the west coast of Scotland in "pre-open border" days.

The boat rides south o' Ailsa Craig in The waning o' the light
There's thirty men in Lendalfoot tae mak oor burden light
And there's thirty horse in Hazelholm wi' the halters on their heids
All set this night upon yon height if wind and water speed.

CHORUS
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine
And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
Away we ran from the excise man
It's the smuggler's life for me, it's the smuggler's life for me.

Oh lass, ye ha'e a cosy bed and cattle ye ha'e ten
Can ye no' live a lawful life and live wi' lawful men
But must I use such hamely goods when there's foreign gear sae fine
Must I drink at the waterside, and France sae full of wine.

CHORUS
Smugglers drink ...

Oh weel I like to see ye Kate, wi' the bairnie on thy knee
But my heart is now wi' the gallant crew that plough through the angry sea
The bitter gale, the tightest sail, wi' the sheltered bay our goal
It's the wayward life, it's the smuggler's strife, it's the joy of the smuggler's soul

CHORUS
Smugglers drink ...

And when, at last, the sun comes up and the cargo safely stored
Like sinless saints, to church we'll go, God's mercy to afford
And there's champagne fine for communion wine and the Parson drinks it too
With a sly wink prays, forgive these men for they know not what they do.

CHORUS
Smugglers drink...

It's the smuggler's life for me, it's the smuggler's life for me.

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.

(R. Burns arr. B.W. Davies MCPS/PRS)

The greatest song of friendship in the world. It existed long before the time of Burns but he added to it and saved it for us. Recorded on the "...wi' lichtsome he'rt..." album with the popular, though not original tune and on the "...o'er the border..." album (RR011) with the tune that Burns would have recognised.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

CHORUS
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa ha'e run aboot the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wandered mony a weary fitt,
Sin' auld lang syne

CHORUS
For auld lang syne...

We twa ha'e paidl'd in the burn
Fae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid ha'e roared
Sin' auld lang syne.

CHORUS
For auld lang syne...

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gi'es a hand o' thine
And we'll tak a richt guid willie waught
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS
For auld lang syne...

Copyright ©1995 Bruce W. Davies. All international rights reserved.