101 Scottish Songs

The wee red book

Norman Buchan

• Publisher: Collins
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9780008136611
• eBook ISBN:
  9780008173180
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Literary Criticism in Poetry

A small format gift book which is a reproduction of the popular book '101 Scottish Songs' published by Collins in 1962. Popularized as 'the wee red songbook' in Scottish folk circles, this publication was in print for 26 years.

One of the most influential books of folk songs ever, compiled by Norman Buchan, and the book which provided a foundation repertoire to many a young singer in the 60s. These songs were a collection of the most significant and influential traditional Scottish folk songs in 1962 and many are still widely sung today.

Popular traditional songs are featured, such as 'A Man's A Man', 'Auld Lang Syne', 'Mingulay Boat Song', 'Coulter's Candy', 'The Ballad of Johnny Ramensky', 'Jamie Raeburn' and 'Katie Bairdie'.

This comprehensive collection also contains a number of lesser known songs such as 'The Rovin' Ploughboy', 'Macpherson's Rant', 'The Bressay Lullaby' and 'Get Up and Bar the Door'.

This unique collection from children's to bothy songs and traditional to love songs celebrates Scottish traditional music at its best.

This publication is launched as part of the 50th anniversary of The Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland. Links to listen to these songs will be available via their website www.tmsa.org.uk

AE FOND KISS

BURNS

Who shall 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 :

Naething could resist my Nancy !

But to see her was to love her,

Love but her, and love for ever.

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 ;

Ae fareweel, alas, for ever !

Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,

Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee.

WILLY’S DROWN’D IN YARROW

From RITSON’S Scotish Songs

Yestreen I made my bed fu’ braid,

This night I’ll mak it narrow ;

For a’ the live-lang winter night

I lie twin’d of my marrow, I lie, etc

Oh cam you by yon water-side ?

Pu’d you the rose or lily ?

Or cam you by yon meadow green ?

Or saw you my sweet Willy ? Or saw you, etc.

She sought him east, she sought him west,

She sought him braid and narrow ;

Syne, in the cleaving o’ a craig,

She found him drown’d in Yarrow. She found, etc.

BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL

Tune as sung by RORY & ALEX MCEWAN

Traditional

Saddled and booted and bridled rade he

A plume tae his helmet, a sword at his knee

But toom cam’ his saddle a’ bluidy tae see,

Hame cam’ his guid horse but never cam’ he.

Doon cam’ his auld mither greetin’ fu’ sair,

Oot cam’ his bonnie wife rivin’ her hair

“My meadows lie green and my corn is unshorn

My barn is tae bigg and my baby’s unborn.”

Hie upon Hielands and laigh upon Tay,

Bonny George Campbell rade oot on a day,

Saddled and bridled, sae bonny rade he,

Hame cam’ his guid horse but never cam’ he.

SCOTS, WHA HAE

Tune: Hey Tutti Taitie

BURNS

Wha will be a traitor knave ?

Wha can fill a coward’s 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 every foe !

Liberty’s in every blow !

Let us do, or dee !

WILLIE BREWED A PECK O’ MAUT

BURNS

Here are we met three merry boys,

Three merry boys I trow are we ;

And monie a night we’ve merry been,

And monie mae we hope to be !

It is the moon, I ken her horn,

That’s blinkin in the lift sae hie :

She shines sae bright to wyle us hame,

But, by my sooth, she’ll wait a wee !

Wha first shall rise to gang awa,

A cuckold, coward loun is he !

Wha first beside his chair shall fa’,

He is the King amang us three !

JOHNNIE COPE

ADAM SKIRVING

When...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Songs
• Children’s Songs
• Notes to Songs
• Recorded Folk Music
• Index to Songs
• About the Publisher