|
Song Lyrics
Click on the song
titles below to access the lyrics
From "One for Sorrow":
Nae Luck
Rightfu' King
As I Roved Out
The Astrologer
Cold Haily Windy Night
Lassie Lie Near Me
Wat Zullen We Drinken
From "For No-one
and Everyone":
The Blacksmith
Fisherman's Wife
Susanna Martin
Stretched on your
Grave
P Stands for Paddy
Sixteen Come Next Sunday
King of Prussia
Fine Flowers
Nae Luck
Words by William Julius Mickle
And are ye sure the news is true?
And are ye sure he's weel?
Is this a time to think o' wark?
Make haste, lay by your wheel
Is this a time to spin a thread
When Colin's at the door?
Reach me my cloak - I'll to the quay
And see him come ashore
Chorus:
For there's nae luck aboot the house
And there's nae luck at a’
There's little pleasure in the house
When our gudeman's awa'
And gi'e to me my bigonet,
My bishop's satin gown;
For I maun tell the baillie's wife
That Colin's come to town
My Turkey slippers maun gae on
My stockins pearly blue
It's a' to pleasure our gudeman
For he's baith leal and true
Sae true his heart, sae smooth his speech
His breath like caller air
His very foot has music in't
As he comes up the stair
And will I see his face again
And will I hear him speak?
I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought
In troth I'm like to greet
If Colin's weel, and weel content
I ha'e nae mair to crave
And gin I live to keep him sae
I'm blest abune the lave
And will I see his face again
And will I hear him speak?
I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought
In troth I'm like to greet
Rightfu' King
Words by Robert Burns
It was a' for our rightfu' king
We left fair Scotland's strand
It was a' for our rightfu' king
We e'er saw Irish land, my
dear
We e'er saw Irish land
Now a' is done that men can do
And a' is done in vain
My love and Native Land fareweel
For I maun cross the main, my
dear
For I maun cross the main
He turn'd him right and round about
Upon the Irish shore
And gae his bridle reins a shake
With adieu for evermore, my
dear
And adieu for evermore
The sodger frae the wars returns
The sailor frae the main
But I hae parted frae my love
Never to meet again, my
dear
Never to meet again
When day is gane, and night is come
And a' folk bound to sleep
I think on him that's far awa
The lee-lang night, and weep, my dear
The lee-lang night, and weep
And who are you, me pretty fair maid
And who are you, me honey?
And who are you, me pretty fair maid
And who are you, me honey?
She answered me quite modestly:
Chorus: With me too-ry-ay
And will you come to me mother's house,
When the sun is shining clearly (repeat)
I'll open the door and I'll let you in
And divil 'o one would hear us
So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly (repeat)
She opened the door and she let me in
And divil the one did hear us
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable (repeat)
There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse,
Then she took me by her lily-white hand
And she led me to the table (repeat)
Saying: There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy,
To drink it if you're able
Then I got up and made the bed
And I made it nice and aisy (repeat)
Then I got up and laid her down
Saying: Lassie, are you able?
And there we lay till the break of day
And divil a one did hear us (repeat)
Then I arose and put on me clothes
Saying: Lassie, I must leave you
And when will you return again
And when will we get married (repeat)
When broken shells make Christmas bells
We might well get married
The Astrologer
It's of a bold astrologer -
in London town did dwell
At telling maidens fortunes – there’s none could
him excel
There was a nice young serving girl - a'living
there close by
She went one day to the astrologer - all for to
have a try
”I hear that you tell fortunes sir - would you
tell me mine said she”
”Of course my dear without a doubt, if you'll
come upstairs with me”
”"To come upstairs with you kind sir - I fear I
am afraid”
She spoke it with such modesty - as if she was a
maid
”To come upstairs with me my dear - you need not
be afraid
Knowing it was but the other day - you with your
master laid!”
Then she began to curse and swear she would her
master bring
As witness for both him and her that it was no
such thing
”My pretty maid don't swear and curse you'll make
the deed the worse
For the crown piece that he gave to you - you've
got it in your purse”
”Indeed you can tell fortunes sir - you've told
me mine” said she
Then out she pulled the crown piece – “Good
morning sir” said she
Cold Haily Windy Night
Oh me hat it is frozen
to me head
And me feet they are like a lump of lead
Oh me shoes they are frozen to me feet
With standing at your window
Oh let me in, the
soldier cried
Cold haily windy night
Oh let me in, the soldier cried
For I'll not come back again, oh
Me father he watches
down on the street
Me mother the chamber keys do keep
Oh, the doors and the windows they do creak
So I dare not let you in, oh
Oh let me in, the
soldier cried
Cold haily windy night
Oh let me in, the soldier cried
For I'll not go back again, oh
So she got up and she
let him in
She kissed her true love cheek and chin
And she'd drawn him between the sheets again
As she opened and she let him in, oh
And then she has
blessed the rainy night
Cold haily windy night
And then she has blessed the rainy night
That she opened and she let him in, oh
Oh soldier, soldier
stay with me
Soldier, soldier won't you marry me
Oh no, no, no, it ne’er can be
So fare thee well forever
And then she had wept
for the rainy night
Cold haily windy night
Then she had wept for the rainy night
When she opened and she let him in, oh
And he jumped up all
out of the bed
And he's put his hat all on his head
For she had lost her maidenhead
And her mother had heard the din, oh
And then she had cursed
the rainy night
Cold haily windy night
O then she had cursed the rainy night
That she opened and she let him in, oh
Lassie Lie Near Me
Words by Robert Burns, adapted by James Hogg
Lang hae we parted
been,
Lassie my dearie;
Now we are met again,
Lassie, lie near me.
Near me, near me,
Lassie, near me;
Lang hast thou lain thy lane,
Lassie, lie near me.
Frae dread Culloden’s field,
Bloody and dreary,
Mourning my country’s fate,
Lanely and weary;
Far frae my dearie,
Far frae my dear, I have,
Become a sad and banish’d wight,
Far frae my dearie.
Loud loud the wind did roar,
Stormy and eerie,
Far frae my native shore,
Far frae my dearie.
Near me, near me,
Dangers stood near me;
Now I’ve escap’d them a’;
Lassie, lie near me.
A’ that I hae endur’d,
Lassie, my dearie,
Here in thine arms is cur’d:
Lassie, lie near me.
Near me, near me;
Lassie, lie near me;
Lang hast thou lain thy lane,
Lassie, lie near me.
Wat zullen we
drinken
Lyrics Hans Sanders, adapted by Rapalje
Wat zullen we drinken, zeven dagen lang
Wat zullen we drinken, wat een dorst (2x)
Er is genoeg voor iedereen, dus drinken we samen
Sla het vat maar aan, dus drinken we samen, niet
alleen (2x)
Eerst zullen wij eten, zeven gangen lang
Eerst zullen wij eten, met elkaar (2x)
Er is genoeg voor iedereen, dus eten we samen
Snij het zwijn maar aan, dus eten we samen, niet alleen (2x)
Eerst
moeten we vechten, niemand weet hoe lang
Eerst moeten we vechten, voor ons belang
(2x)
Maar ik vecht niet met iedereen, dus vechten we
samen
Samen staan we sterk, dus vechten we samen, niet
alleen (2x)
Eerst wil ik vrijen, zeven nachten lang
Eerst wil ik vrijen met mijn life (2x)
Maar ik vrij niet met iedereen, dus vrij ik samen
Zeven nachten lang, dus vrij ik samen met mijn
lief alleen (2x)
Eerst zullen we zingen, zeven verzen lang
Eerst zullen we zingen, met elkaar (2x)
Dit is een lied voor iedereen, dus zingen we
samen
Zeven verzen lang, dus zingen we samen, niet
alleen (2x)
A blacksmith courted me, nine months or better
He fairly won my heart, wrote me a letter
With his hammer in his hand, he looked so clever
And if I was with my love, I’d live forever
Oh, where has my love gone, with his cheeks like roses
And his big black billycock on, decked with primroses
I’m afraid the scorching sun will shine and burn his beaty
And if I was with my love, I’d do my duty
Strange news has come to town, strange news is carried
Strange news cries up and down, that my love is married
I wish them both much joy, though they can't hear me
And if I was with my love, I'd do my duty
What did you promise, love, when you sat beside me
You said you'd marry me and not deny me
If I said I'd marry you, 'twas only for to try you
So bring your witness, love, and I'll ne’er deny you
Oh, witness have I none, save God Almighty
And he’ll reward you well for the slighting of me
Her lips grew pale and white; it made her poor heart tremble
To think she loved one, and he proved deceitful
A' the week your man's awa'
And a' the week you bide your lane
A' the time you're waiting for
The minute that he's comin' hame
Ye ken whit why he has tae work
Ye ken the hours he has tae keep
And yet it makes you angry when
Ye see him just come hame tae sleep
Through the months and through the years
While you're bringing up the bairns
Your man's awa' tae here and there
Followin' the shoals of herring
And when he's back there's nets tae mend
You've maybe got a score or twa
And when they're done he'll rise and say
Wife it's time I was awa'
Work and wait and dree your weird
Pin yer faith in herrin' sales
And oftimes lie awake at nicht
In fear and dread of winter gales
But men maun work tae earn their breid
And men maun work to gain their fee
And fishermen will aye gang oot
As long as fish swim in the sea
A' the week your man's awa'
And a' the week you bide your lane
A' the time you're waiting for
The minute that he's comin' hame
Susanna Martin was a witch who dwelt in Amesbury
With brilliant eye and saucy tongue she worked her sorcery
And when into the judge’s court the sheriffs brought her hither
The lilacs drooped as she passed by
And then were seen to wither
A witch she was, though trim and neat with comely head held high
It did not seem that one as she with Satan so could vie
And when in court when the afflicted ones proclaimed her evil ways
She loudly laughed and boldly met
"Who has bewitched these maids," he asked, and strong was her reply
"If they be dealing in black arts, you know as well as I"
And then the stricken ones made moan as she approached near
They saw her shape upon the beam
So none could doubt’t was there
The neighbours 'round swore to the truth of her Satanic powers
That she could fly o'er land and stream and come dry shod through showers
At night, it seemed that she had appeared a cat of fearsome mean
"Avoid she-devil,” they had cried
To keep their spirits clean
The spectral evidence was weighed, and stern the parson spoke
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, ‘t is written in the Book"
Susanna Martin so accused spoke with flaming eyes
"I scorn these things for they are not
Now those bewitched, they cried her out, and loud their voice did ring
they saw a bird above her head, an evil yellow thing
And so, beneath a summer sky, Susanna Martin died
And still in scorn she faced the rope
Her comely head held high
Stretched on
your Grave
Words by Phillip King & Frank O'Connor
I am stretched on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure they could not sever
My apple tree, my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather
When my family thinks
That I'm safely in my bed
Oh from morning till night
I lay stretched out at your head
Calling out into the earth
With tears hot and wild
For the loss of the girl
That I loved as a child
Do you remember the time
oh the time that we were lost
By the cold shady green
And the touch of the frost
Oh thanks sweet Jesus
We did all that was right
And your maidenhead still
Is your pillar of light
Oh the priest and the friars
They approach me in dread
For I, I love you still
But I’m alive and you are dead
I still will be your shelter
Through rain and through storm
And with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm
So I am stretched on your grave
And I lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure they could not sever
My apple tree, my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And am worn by the weather
As I roved out upon a May morn
I sat myself down on an old stone wall
To hear two lovers talk me boys
To hear what they might say
So I might know a little more about love
P stands for Paddy, I suppose.
W stands for false Willy-O
but Johnny is the fairest man.
Johnny is the fairest man me boys
Johnny is the fairest man
And I don't care what anybody says
Cause Johnny is the fairest man
Now come and sit beside me love
On the dewy grass so green
For it’s a long three-quarters of a year or more
Since my love and I hae been
Since my love and I hae been my dear
Since my love and I hae been
It’s a long three-quarters of a year or more
Since my love and I hae been
No I won’t sit beside you love
For I hear you love another pretty girl
and your heart’s no longer mine
Your heart’s no longer mine, she said
Your heart’s no longer mine
I hear you love another pretty girl
and your heart’s no longer mine
Oh I will climb the tall tall tree
And rob a little bird’s net
And I will bring whatever I can find
To the one that I love best
To the one that I love best, he said
To the one that I love best
And I will bring whatever I can find
To the one that I love best
Sixteen
Come Next Sunday
As I went down yon heathery
moor
I met a bonny wee lassie
She winked at me and passed me by
And oh but she was handsome
Chorus:
With me tattiga nattiga nantin aye
My tattiga nattiga nay do
"Oh Where are you going, my bonny wee lass?
"Oh Where are you going, my honey?"
Quite mannerly she answered me
"On a message for me mammy"
"Oh what's your age, my bonny wee lassie?
"Oh what's your age, my honey?"
Quite mannerly she answered me
"I'll be sixteen come next Sunday"
"Oh where do you live, my bonny wee lass?
"Oh where do you live, my honey?"
Quite mannerly she answered me
"Way down in yon green valley"
"Oh where do you lie, my bonny wee lass?
"Oh where do you lie, my honey?"
Quite mannerly she answered me
"In the bed behind me mammy"
"Will you marry me, my bonny wee lass?
"Will you marry me, my honey?"
Quite mannerly she answered me
"Will you wait 'til I ask me mammy?"
"If I go down the morrow night
When the moon is shining clearly
Will you open the door and let me in
And your mammy, she won't hear me?"
But when I went down to her house
Her mammy chanced to hear me
She pulled her daughter by the hair
And she hit her three times over
King
of Prussia
Words by Michael Southorn
If you have the time, then I
have the will
To tell you a story the men speak of still
Concerning John Carter, the Prussion king
Owner and host of the old Prussian inn
Now John was in free trade
‘tween Penzance and France
He led the excise a merry royal dance
Took orders from no-one ‘centing with gold
To run in fine brandy likewise goods untold
Then one night by treasury his
luck ran dry
The customs were waiting in rocks close by
His boatload was taken and much blood was spilled
The bond house was soon to the roof timbers filled
But not one to flinch for
impossible task
John Carter for volunteers then did he ask
To go to the town the very next night
And reclaim his own goods afore morning light
Shadows had deepened and night
things did crawl
From the gloom of the building there came a soft call
Soldiers outnumbered and no quarter asked
It’s away o’er the moor with barrel and cask
It’s been many years, John
Carter long dead
But the four winds still speak of the life that he led
And the see adds its chorus to the words that we sing
Let’s raise now our glasses to the Prussian king
Fine Flowers
in the Valley
She sat down below
a thorn
Fine flowers in the valley
And there she had her sweet babe borne
And the green leaves they grow rarely
Smile nae sae sweet, my bonnie babe
Fine flowers in the valley
Smile
sae sweet, ye smile me dead
And the
green leaves they grow rarely
She's
ta'en out her wee penknife
Fine
flowers in the valley
And
twinned the sweet babe o' its life
And the
green leaves they grow rarely
She
howket a grave by the light o' the moon
Fine
flowers in the valley
And
there she buried her sweet babe born
And the
green leaves they grow rarely
As she
was going to the Church
Fine
flowers in the valley
She saw
a sweet babe in the porch
And the
green leaves they grow rarely
O sweet
babe, if thou were mine
Fine
flowers in the valley
I wad
cleed thee in the silk sae fine
And the
green leaves they grow rarely
O cruel
mother, if I were thine
Fine
flowers in the valley
You did
na prove to me sae kind
And the
green leaves they grow rarely
|