Blackbird

I am a young sailor, my story is sad
Though once I was carefree and a brave sailor lad
I courted a lassie by night and by day
Ah, but now she has left me and sailed far away

  Chorus:
  Oh, if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing
  I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in
  And in the top rigging, I would there build my nest
  And I'd flutter my wings over her lily-white breast

Or if I was a scholar and could handle a pen
One secret love letter to my true love I'd send
And I'd tell of my sorrow, my grief and my pain
Since she's gone and left me in yon flowery glen

  (Chorus)

I sailed over the ocean, my fortune to seek
And though I missed her caress and her kiss on my cheek
I returned and I told her my love was still warm
But she turned away lightly and great was her scorn

  (Chorus)

I offered to take her to Donnybrook Fair
And to buy her fine ribbons to tie up her hair
I offered to marry and to stay by her side
But she says in the morning she sailed with the tide

  (Chorus)

My parents they chide me and will not agree
Saying that me and my false love, married should never be
Ah, but let them deprive me or let them do what they will
While there's breath in my body, she's the one that I love still

  (Chorus)



Both Sides The Tweed

What's the spring-breathing jasmine and rose?
What's the summer with all its gay train
Or the splendour of autumn to those
Who've bartered their freedom for gain?

  Chorus:
  Let the love of our land's sacred rights
  To the love of our people succeed
  Let friendship and honour unite
  And flourish on both sides the Tweed.
  
No sweetness the senses can cheer
Which corruption and bribery bind
No brightness that gloom can e'er clear
For honour's the sum of the mind

  (Chorus)

Let virtue distinguish the brave
Place riches in lowest degree
Think them poorest who can be a slave
Them richest who dare to be free

  (Chorus)



Donald MacGillavry

Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,
Donald comes down the hill wild and angry;
Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly,
Here's to the king and Donald MacGillavry.

  Come like a weighbauk, Donald MacGillavry,
  Come like a weighbauk, Donald MacGillavry,
  Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly:
  Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald MacGillavry.

Donald's run o'er the hill but his tether, man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi' an ether, man;
When he comes back, there's some will look merrily;
Here's to King James and Donald MacGillavry.

  Come like a weaver, Donald MacGillavry,
  Come like a weaver, Donald MacGillavry,
  Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly;
  Gie them full measure, my Donald MacGillavry.

Donald has foughten wi' rief and roguery;
Donald has dinner'd wi' banes and beggary,
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald MacGillavry.

  Come like a tailor, Donald MacGillavry,
  Come like a tailor, Donald MacGillavry,
  Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly,
  Here's to King James and Donald MacGillavry.

Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness;
Whigging and prigging and a' newfangleness,
They maun be gane: he winna be baukit man:
He maun hae justice, or faith he'll tak it, man.

  Come like a cobler, Donald MacGillavry,
  Come like a cobler, Donald MacGillavry;
  Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly,
  Up wi King James and Donald MacGillavry.

Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery;
Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property;
Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man,
Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man.

  Come like the devil, Donald MacGillavry,
  Come like the devil, Donald MacGillavry;
  Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly,
  Up wi' King James and Donald MacGillavry.



Donald where's your troosers!

I've just come down from the Isle of Skye,
I'm no very big and I'm awful shy,
And the lassies shout when I go by,
"Donald where's your troosers!"

  Chorus:
  Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low,
  Through the streets in my kilt I'll go,
  All the lassies shout hello!
  Donald where's your troosers!

A Lassie took me to a ball
And it was slippery in the hall
And I was feart that I would fall
Fur I hadnae on ma' troosers!

  (Chorus)
  
I went down to London Town
And I had some fun in the underground
The ladies turned their heads around
Saying "Donald where's your troosers!"

  (Chorus)
  
To wear the kilt is my delight
It isna wrong, I know its right
The islanders would get a fright
If they saw me in the troosers!

  (Chorus)
  
They'd like to wed me everywan
Just let them catch me if they can
You cannae tak' the breeks aff a Hielan' man
And I don't wear the troosers

  (Chorus)



Fhear A Bhata

How often haunting the highest hilltops
I scan the ocean I sail tae sea
Wilt come tonight love wilt come tomorrow
Wilt ever come love to comfort me?

  Chorus:
  Fhear a bhata no horo eil'e
  Fhear a bhata no horo eil'e
  Fhear a bhata no horo eil'e
  Oh fare thee well love where e'er you be

They call thee fickle they call thee false one
And seek tae change me but all in vain
For thou art my dream a through the dark night
And every morning I watch the main

  (Chorus)

There's not a hamlet too well I know it
Where you go wandering or set a while
But all the old folks you win wi' talking
And charm it's maidens with song and smile

  (Chorus)

Do you remember the promise made me
The tartan plaidie the silken gown
The ring of gold with thy hair and portrait?
That gown and ring i will never know

  (Chorus)



Queen of Argyll

Gentlemen it is my duty
To inform you of one beauty
Though I'd ask of you a favour
Not to seek her for a while
Though I own she is a creature
Of character and feature
No words can paint the picture
Of the queen of all Argyll

  Chorus:
  And if you could have seen her there
  Boys, if you had just been there
  The swan was in her movement
  And the morning in her smile
  All the roses in the garden
  They bow and ask for pardon
  For not one could match the beauty
  Of the Queen of all Argyll

On the evening that I mentioned
I passed with light intention
Through a part of our dear country
Known for beauty and for style
In a place of noble thinkers
Of scholars and great drinkers
But above them all for splendour
Shone the Queen of all Argyll

  (Chorus)
  
So my lads I needs must leave you
My intentions no' to grieve you
Nor indeed would I deceive you
Oh I'll see you in a while
I must find some way to gain her
To court her and attain her
I fear my heart's in danger
From the Queen of all Argyll

  (Chorus)



The Isla Waters

I have funds tae buy me whiskey
Monie funds tae call my ain
But if I should get to fu' o' water
Wha's the man that would carry me hame?

  Chorus:
  And if I be dround in the Isla Waters
  Hou the deuce would I win Hame?
  If I be drounk in the Isla Waters
  My wee doggie would find me in the Isla Stream.

Ilka day I cross that water
Aye she's brackent wi' the sea
But if there is o' ale-hous laughter
Daurk an' still she waits on me.

  (Chorus)

Like the fisher's line that's brawken
Leaves the salmon tae the swell
Monie's the nicht ye'll fan' me souken
But ye brak the line yersel.

  (Chorus)

Aa' my days I've lived the quarter
Baud and bonnie fine stuff I've seen
But should I droun in your water
My wee doggie would find me in the Isla Stream.

  (Chorus)