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Black, White and Shades of Green
Rare Willie
Lady Mary
O Ro Song of the Sea
Shule Aroon
The Soldier's Return
Safe and Sound
Songs From Live Performances
The Parting Glass
She Moved Through The Fair
Banks of Claudy
Bonnie Kellswater
The Diggers Song
Geordie
Bonnie Kellswater
The Maid Who Sold Her Barley
Ilka Blade o' Grass
Annachie Gordon
At the Foot of the Mountain
Henry Martin
Traveler
Endymion
O Willie's rare and Willy's fair
And Willie's wondrous bonny,
And Willie says he'll marry me
Gin e'er he marries any.
O came you by yon waterside,
Pulled you the rose or lily,
Or came you by yon meadow green,
Or saw you my sweet Willie ?
She sought him east, she sought him west,
She sought him broad and narrow,
Till in the clifting of a crag
She found him drowned in Yarrow.
His hair it was three-quarters long,
Three-quarters long and yellow.
She twined it round her lily hand
And drew him out of Yarrow.
Yestreen I made my bed full broad,
Tonight I'll make it narrow.
For all the livelong winter's night
I lie twinned of my marrow.
O Willie's rare and Willy's fair
And Willie's wondrous bonny,
And Willie says he'll marry me
Gin e'er he marries any.
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He came from his palace grand
He came to my cottage door
His words were few but his looks
Will linger for ever more
The look in his sad dark eyes
More tender than words could be
But I was nothing to him
And he was the world to me
There in her garden she stands
All dressed in fine satin and lace
Lady Mary so cold and so strange
Who finds in her heart no place
He knew I would be his bride
With a kiss for a lifetime fee
But I was nothing to him
And he was the world to me
And now in his palace grand
on a flower strewn bed he lies
His beautiful lids are closed
Over his sad dark eyes
And among the mourners who mourn
Why should I a mourner be
When I was nothing to him
And he was the world to me
And how will it be with our souls
When we meet in that spirit land
What the human heart ne'er knows
Will the spirit then understand
Or in some celestial form
Will our sorrows repeated be
Will I still be nothing to him
Though he is the world to me
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We can not post the lyrics of this song here due to copyright liability. Sorry, O Ro Ro-ers.
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I wish I were on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and I'd cry my fill,
And ev'ry tear would turn a mill,
Iss guh day thoo a voorneen slawn.
Chorus:
Shule, shule, shule aroon
Shule go succir agus, shule go kewn;
Shule go dheen durrus oggus aylig lume,
Iss guh day thoo a voorneen slawn.
I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
To by my love a sword of steel
Iss guh day thoo a voorneen slawn.
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I had my heart again,
And vainly think I'd not complain
Iss guh day thoo a voorneen slawn.
But now my love has gone to France
To try his fortune to advance.
If he e'er come back, 'tis but a chance
Iss guh day thoo a voorneen slawn.
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When wild war's deadly blast was blown,
And my gentle peace returning,
Wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless,
And mony a widow mourning:
I left the lines and tented field,
Where lang I'd been a lodger;
My humble knapsack a' my wealth,
A poor and honest sodger.
A lead light heart beat in my breast,
My hands unstain'd wi' plunder;
For fair Scotia hame again,
I cheery on did wander.
I thought upon the banks o' Coil,
I thought upon my Nancy;
I thought upon the witching smile,
That caught my youthful fancy.
At length I reach'd the bonnie glen,
Where early life I sported;
I pass'd the mill and trysting thorn,
Where Nancy aft I courted.
Wha spied I but my ain dear maid,
Down by her mother's dwelling?
And turn'd me round to hide the flood
That in my e'e was swelling.
Wi' alter'd voice, quoth I, Sweet Lass,
Sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom,
O! happy, happy may he be,
That's dearest to thy bosom!
My purse is light, I've far to gang,
And fain wad be thy lodger,
I've served my king and country lang:
Tak' pity on a sodger.
Sae wistfully she gazed on me,
And lovelier was than ever;
Quote she, A sodger ance I lo'ed,
Forget him shall I never.
Our humble cot and hamely fare,
Ye freely shall partake o't;
That gallant badge, the dear cockade,
Ye're welcome for the sake o't.
The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame,
And find thee still true-hearted;
Though poor in gear, we're rich in love,
And mair we'se ne'er be parted.
Quoth she, My grandsire left me gowd
A mailin' plenish'd fairly;
Then come, my faithful sodger lad,
Thou'rt welcome to it dearly!
For gold the merchant ploughs the main
The farmer ploughs the manor;
But glory is the sodger's prize,
The sodger's wealth is honour.
The brave poor sodger ne'er despise,
Nor count him as a stranger:
Remember he's his country's stay,
In day and hour o' danger.
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Please see the liner notes of Black, White and Shades of Green for details.
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Of all the money ere I had, I spent it in good company,
And all the harm I've ever done, alas was done to none but me
and all I've done for want of wit, to memory now I can't recall
so fill me to the parting glass, goodnight and joy be with you all.
Of all the comrades ere I had, they're sorry for my going away,
and all the sweethearts ere I had , they wish me one more day to stay,
but since it falls unto my lot that I should go and you should not,
I'll gently rise and softly call, goodnight and joy be with you all.
If I had money enough to spend and leisure time to sit awhile
there is a fair maid in this town who sorely has my heart beguiled
Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips, I alone she has my heart in thrall
so fill me to the porting glass goodnight and joy be with you all.
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My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind
And my father won't slight you for your lack of kind"
And she stepped away from me and this she did say:
It will not be long, love, till our wedding day"
As she stepped away from me and she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her move here and move there
And then she turned homeward with one star awake
Like the swan in the evening moves over the lake
The people were saying, no two e'er were wed
But one had a sorrow that never was said
And I smiled as she passed with her goods and her gear,
And that was the last that I saw of my dear.
Last night she came to me, my dead love came in
So softly she came that her feet made no din
As she laid her hand on me and this she did say
"It will not be long, love, 'til our wedding day"
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As I walked out one morning
All in the month of May
Down by a flowery garden
I carelessly did stray.
I overheard a young maid
In sorrow did complain,
All for her absent lover
Who plows the raging main.
I boldly stepped up to her
And put her in surprise.
I know she did not know me
I being in disguise.
I says, "Me charming creature,
My joy, my hearts delight,
How far have you to travel
This dark and dreary night?"
"I'm in search of a faithless young man.
Johnny is his name.
And aloing the Banks of Claudy
I'm told he does remain."
"This is the Banks of Claudy
Fair maid where on you stand.
But don't depend on Johnny
For he's a false young man.
Oh don't depend on Johnny
For he'll not meet you here.
But tarry with me in yon green woods
No danger need you fear.
Oh it's six long weeks or better
Since Johnny left the shore
He's crossing the wild ocean
Where the foam and the billows roar.
He's crossing the wild ocean
For honour and for fame.
But this I've heard, the ship was wrecked
All on the coast of Spain."
Oh it's when she heard this dreadful news
She flew into dispair.
By the wringing of her milk white hands
And the tearing of her hair.
Saying "If Johnny he is drowned
No man on earth I'll take,
But through lonesome groves and valleys
I'll wander for his sake."
Oh it's when he saw her loyalty
No longer could he stand
He flew into her arms saying
"Betsy I'm the man."
Saying "Betsy I'm the young man
The cause of all your pain
But since we've met on Claudy Banks
We'll never part again."
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Here's a health to you bonnie Kellswater
Where you get all the pleasures of life
Where you get all the fishing and fowling
And a bonny wee lass for your wife.
Oh it's down where yon waters run muddy
I'm afraid they will never run clear
And it's when I begin for to study
My mind is on him that's not here.
And it's this one and that one may court him
But if any one gets him but me
It's early and late I will curse them
The parting lovely Willie from me.
Oh a father he calls on his daughter
Two choices I'll give unto thee
Would you rather see Willie's ship a'sailing
See him hung like a dog on yonder tree.
Oh father, dear father, I love him
I can no longer hide it from thee
Through an acre of fire I would travel
Along with the lovely Willie to be.
Oh hard was the heartbreak I'm finding
She took from her full heart's delight
May the chains of old Ireland come find them
And softly their pillows at night.
Oh yonder there's a ship on the ocean
And she does not know which way to steer
From the east and the west she's a'blowing
She reminds me of the charms of my dear.
For a gold ring he placed on my finger
Saying love hear this in your mind
If ever I sail from old Ireland
You'll mind I'll not leave you behind.
Here's a health to you bonnie Kellswater
Where you get all the pleasures of life
Where you get all the fishing and fowling
And a bonny wee lass for your wife.
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In 1649 To St George's Hill
A ragged band they called the Diggers Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords They defied the laws
They were the dispossessed Reclaiming what was theirs
'We come in peace' they said 'To dig and sow
We come to work the land in common And to make the waste land grow
This earth divided We will make whole
So it can be A common treasury for all
'The sin of property We do disdain
No one has any right to buy and sell The earth for private gain
By theft and murder They took the land
Now everywhere the walls Rise up at their command
'They make the laws To chain us well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship The God they serve
The God of greed who feeds the rich While poor men starve
'We work, we eat together We need no swords
We will not bow to masters Or pay rent to the lords
We are free men Though we are poor'
You Diggers all stand up for glory Stand up now
From the men of property The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers To wipe out the Diggers claim
Tear down their cottages Destroy their corn
They were dispersed but still the vision lingers on
'You poor take courage You rich take care
The earth was made a common treasury For everyone to share
All things in common All people one
We come in peace'- The order came to cut them down
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Come, bridle me my milkwhite steed,
Come bridle me my pony,
That I may ride to fair London town
To plead for my Geordie.
And when she entered in the hall
There were lords and ladies plenty.
Down on her knees she then did fall
To plead for the life of Geordie.
It's six pretty babes that I have got,
The seventh lies in my body;
I'll freely part with them ev'ry one,
If you'll spare me the life of Geordie.
Then George looked round the court,
And saw his dearest Polly;
He said, "My dear, you've come too late,
For I'm condemn'd already!
Then the judge he looked down on him
And said, I'm sorry for thee,
'Tis thine own confession hath hanged thee,
May the Lord have mercy upon thee.
O Geordie stole nor cow nor calf
And he never murder'd any,
But he stole sixteen of the king's white steeds,
And sold them in Bohenny.
Let Geordie hang in golden chains,
(His crimes were never many),
Because he came of royal blood
And courted a virtuous lady.
I wish I were in yonder grave,
Where times I have been many,
With the broad sword and my pistol too
I'd fight for the life of Geordie.
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It's cold and raw the north winds blow
Black in the morning early,
When all the hills were covered with snow
Oh then it was winter fairly.
As I was riding o'er the moor
I met a farmer's daughter
Her cherry cheeks and slow-black hair
The caused my heart to falter.
I bowed my bonnet very low
To let her know my meaning.
She answered with a courteous smile
Here looks they were engaging.
"where are you bound my pretty maid
It's now in the morning early?"
The answer that she made to me,
"Kind sir, to sell my barley."
"Now twenty guineas I've in my purse
And twenty more that's yearly.
You need not go to the market town
For I'll buy all your barley.
If twenty guineas would gain the heart
Of the maid I love so dearly,
All for to tarry with me one night
And go home in the morning early."
As I was riding o'er the moor
The very evening after,
It was my fortune for to meet
The farmer's only daughter.
Although the weather being cold and raw
With her I thought to parley
The answer that she made to me,
"Kind sir, I've sold my barley."
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Confide ye aye in Providence,
For Providence is kind,
And bear ye a' life's changes wi'
A calm and tranquil mind,
Tho' press'd and hemm'd on ev'ry side,
Hae faith and ye'll win through,
Chorus
For ilka blade o' grass,
Keps its ain drop o' dew,
For ilka blade o' grass,
Keps its ain drop o' dew,
Gin reft frae friends, or cross'd in love,
As whiles nae doubt ye've been,
Grief lies deep hidden in your heart,
Or tears flow frae your een;
Believe it for the best,
An' trow there's gude in store for you,
Chorus
In lang, lang days o' simmer,
When the clear an' cloudless sky,
Refuses ae wee drap o' rain,
To Nature parch'd an dry,
The genial night, wi' balmy breath,
Gars verdure spring anew,
Chorus
So lest 'mid Fortune's sunshine
We should feel owre proud an' hie,
An' in our pride forget to wipe
The tear frae poortith's e'e;
Some wee dark cluds o' sorrow come,
We ken na whence or how,
Chorus
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Buchan is bonnie and there lives my love
My heart it lies on him, it will not remove
It will not remove for all that I have done
O never will I forget my love, Annachie
For Annachie Gordon, he's Bonnie and he's braw
He'd entice any woman that ever him saw
He'd entice any woman, and so he has done me
O never will I forget my love, Annachie
Down came her father and he's standing on the floor
Saying, Jeannie, you're trying the tricks of a whore
You care nothing for a man who cares so very much for thee
You must marry with Lord Saltoun and leave young Annachie
For Annachie Gordon, he's only but a man
And although he may be pretty, but where are all his lands
Saltoun's lands are broad and his towers they stand high
You must marry with Lord Saltoun and forget young Annachie
When Jeannie was married and from the church she was brought home
And she and her maidens so merry should have been
When she and her maidens so merry should have been
O she's gone to her chamber and she's crying all alone
And up and spoke her father and he's spoken with renowned
All you who are her maidens, won't you loosen off her gown
But she fell down in a swoon, o so low down by their knees
Saying, Look on, for I'm dying for my love, Annachie
The day that Jeannie married was the day that Jeannie died
That's the day that young Annachie came rolling home from the tide
And down came her maidens and they're wringing of their hands
Saying, woe to you Annachie, for staying from the sands
So long from the land and so long upon the flood
O they've married your Jeannie and now she is dead
All you that were her maidens, won't you take me by the hand
And won't you lead me to the chamber that my love lies in
And he kissed her cold lips until his heart turned to stone
And he's died in the chamber where his true love lay in
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Tyler wrote this song. If you steal it, disgruntled Highland Cattle will be relocated to destroy your lawn.
If I must go, if I am to die
Remember me again
If I am to pass, then let me lie
At the foot of the mountain
The tallest tree that you’d ever see
Finds more wind than his friends
A breeze goes by and he feels the sky
But the forest- will hold him in the end
The beeches grieve with their w’spring leaves
The birches bend and sway
The oak may mourn and act forlorn
For his friend- has left and gone away
Chorus
A tree may fall but it’s not all
If no one is around
You’d miss your friends and make amends
If you're- not there to hear the sound
When your forest burns and your world is turned
And the ash is coming down
Your leaves will boil for all the toil
And in sorrow- you may fight to swim and drown
Chorus
Should I pass I’d wish my last
To the people I have touched
Sing of the time that I made this rhyme
And the last- bit of life I clutched
Chorus
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Myles wrote this song. So don't take it or you may incur the wrath of Kilt Boy!
Home is the place I love it is far enough
From the world, safe and pure and warm
Green trees in groves, blue seas in the coves
Flowers in grow in the fields
Horses running free, happy to be
In the grass, tall and straight and fair
Streams glide over rocks, softly wind talks
In my ear on the hill
Asking me to go, down where waters flow
To the sea, fast and cold and clear
Explore o’er the waves, brightly the moon paves
A white path on the sea
Underneath stars and sun, below white sails to run
With the wind and cloud I am proud
For I am the Traveler, traveling oh so far
Always I see to roam far from home
My white wings of cloth carry me forth
To lands far, in the mist of morn
Deserts hot and pare, sand blown in the air
Dead land bake in the sun
My feet trod the soil, map in hands so loyal
Quick to me, jungle, forest, plain
Never long I stay moving everyday
Long I seek the way home
Chorus
Even though I go, far and wide I know
My heart lies with friends and family
I am destined for no place but the door
Of my home on the hill
Underneath stars and sun, below white sails to run
With the wind and cloud I am proud
For I am the Traveler, traveling oh so far
Always I see to roam back to home
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There were three brothers in merry Scotland,
In merry Scotland there were three,
And they did cast lots which of them should go, should go, should go,
And turn robber all on the salt sea.
The lot it fell first upon Henry Martin,
The youngest of all three;
That he should turn robber all on the salt sea, Salt sea, salt sea.
For to maintain his two brothers and he.
He had not been sailing but a long winter's night
And a part of a short winter's day,
Before he espied a stout lofty ship, lofty ship, lofty ship,
Come abibing down on him straight way.
Hullo! Hullo! cried Henry Martin,
What makes you sail so nigh?
I'm a rich merchant bound for fair London town, London Town, London Town
Will you please for to let me pass by?
Oh no! Oh no! cried Henry Martin,
That thing it never could be,
For I am turned robber all on the salt sea, salt sea, salt sea.
For to maintain my brothers and me.
Come lower your topsail and brail up your mizz'n
And bring your ship under my lee,
Or I will give you a full flowing ball, flowing ball, flowing ball,
And your dear bodies drown in the salt sea.
Oh no! we won't lower our lofty topsail,
Nor bow ourselves under your lee,
And you shan't take from us our rich merchant goods, merchant goods, merchant goods
Nor point our bold guns to the sea.
With broadside and broadside and at it they went
For fully two hours or three,
Till Henry Martin gave to her the deathshot, the deathshot, the deathshot,
And straight to the bottom went she.
Bad news, bad news, to old England came,
Bad news to fair London Town,
There's been a rich vessel and she's cast away, cast away, cast away,
And all of the merry men drown'd.
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Another Tyler original. Stealing is bad. Remember that.
One bright spring night, the moon looked down
On a young shepard boy lying still
She thought to herself on this happy day
That she was in love, was in love, was in love
She was in love, was in love.
Endymion was what he was called
A more beautiful boy you'd never see
The moon smiled on him to no small surprise
She fell in love, fell in love, fell in love
She fell in love, fell in love.
To keep in her sight for the rest of his life
She made this sleep be his last
For the rest of his days he'd sleep away
For she was in love, was in love, was in love
She was in love, was in love.
He withered away on the side of the brae
The moon she shed her sad tears
The boy that she loved couldn't stay as he was
When she fell in love, fell in love, fell in love
She fell in love, fell in love.
One bright spring night, the moon looked down
On a young shepard boy lying still
She thought to herself on this happy day
That she was in love, was in love, was in love
She was in love, was in love.
Love will endure though it cannot remain
Fixed for the rest of time
Live love in life as though you'll never die
If you fall in love, fall in love, fall in love
If you fall in love, fall in love
If you fall in love, fall in love, fall in love
If you fall in love, fall in love
If you fall in love, fall in love
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