My Ain Folk

Far frae my hame I wander, but still my thoughts return 

To my ain folk ower yonder, in the shieling by the burn. 

I see the cosy ingle, and the mist abune the brae: 

And joy and sadness mingle, as I list some auld-warld lay.

 O' their absent ane they're telling, the auld folk by the fire: 

And I mark the swift tears welling, as the ruddy flame leaps high'r. 

How the mither wad caress me, were I but by her side: 

Now she prays that Heav'n will bless me, tho' the stormy seas divide.

And it's oh! but I'm longing for my ain folk, 

Tho' they be but lowly, puir and plain folk: 

I am far beyond the sea, but my heart will ever be 

At home in dear auld Scotland, wi' my ain folk. 

Strangely enough, the writer of this song William Braund lived in London and had never set foot in Scotland.

PLUS THE BONUS

The blog will be updated as usual during the holiday period

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Dream Angus

Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell, 

Angus is here with dreams to sell. 

Hush now wee bairnie and sleep without fear, 

For Angus will bring you a dream, my dear.

Can you no hush your weepin'? 

All the wee lambs are sleepin'. 

Birdies are nestlin', nestlin' taegether, 

Dream Angus is hurtlin' through the heather.

Sweet the lavrock sings at morn, 

Heraldin' in a bright new dawn. 

Wee lambs, they coorie doon taegether 

Alang with their ewies in the heather.

Dreams to sell, fine dreams to sell, 

Angus is here with dreams to sell. 

Hush now wee bairnie and sleep without fear, 

For Angus will bring you a dream, my dear.

PLUS THE BONUS

The Kelpies at Falkirk

The blog will be updated every day during the holiday period

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The Road and the Miles to Dundee

Cauld winter was howlin' o'er moor and o'er mountain, 

And wild was the surge of the dark rolling sea, 

When I met about daybreak a bonnie young lassie, 

Wha asked me the road and the miles to Dundee.

Says I, "My young lassie, I canna' weel tell ye 

The road and the distance I canna' weel gie. 

But if you'll permit me tae gang a wee bittie, 

I'll show ye the road and the miles to Dundee".

At once she consented and gave me her arm, 

Ne'er a word did I speir wha the lassie micht be, 

She appeared like an angel in feature and form, 

As she walked by my side on the road to Dundee.

At length wi' the Howe o' Strathmartine behind us, 

The spires o' the toon in full view we could see, 

She said "Gentle Sir, I can never forget ye 

For showing me far on the road to Dundee".

I took the gowd pin from the scarf on my bosom - 

And said "Keep ye this in remembrance o' me"

Then bravely I kissed the sweet lips o' the lassie, 

E'er I parted wi' her on the road to Dundee.

So here's to the lassie, I ne'er can forget her, 

And lika young laddie that's list'ning to me, 

O never be sweer to convoy a young lassie 

Though it's only to show her the road to Dundee.

PLUS THE BONUS

This is Desperate Dan a wild west character who appears in The Dandy. The comic is published by D.C. Thomson and Co. who are based in Dundee

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Ye Banks and Braes

by Robert Burns

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!

Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird,

That wantons thro' the flowering thorn!

Thou minds me o' departed joys,

Departed, never to return.

Aft hae I rov'd by bonnie Doon

To see the rose and woodbine twine;

And ilka bird sang o' its luve,

And fondly sae did I o' mine;

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose,

Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree!

And my fause luver stole my rose -

But, ah! he left the thorn wi' me.

PLUS THE BONUS

Loch Doon Castle, Ayrshire

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Mull of Kintyre

Words by Paul McCartney

Mull of Kintyre

Oh mist rolling in from the sea,

My desire is always to be here,

Oh Mull of Kintyre.

Far have I travelled and much have I seen,

Dark distant mountains with valleys of green,

Past painted deserts the sunsets on fire

As he carries me home to the Mull of Kintyre.

Sweep through the heather like deer in the glen,

Carry me back to the days I knew then,

Nights when we sang like a heavenly choir

Of the life and the time of the Mull of Kintyre.

Smiles in the sunshine and tears in the rain

Still take me back to where my memories remain,

Flickering embers growing higher and higher

As they carry me back to the Mull of Kintyre.

Mull of Kintyre

Oh mist rolling in from the sea,

My desire is always to be here,

Oh Mull of Kintyre.

PLUS THE BONUS

This view across the Kilbrannan Sound towards the 
Mull of Kintyre was taken from the road beside Machrie farm on Arran.

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FROM NOW ON, THE BLOG WILL BE UPDATED EVERY DAY

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Kelvingrove

words by Thomas Lyle 1792-1592

Let us haste to Kelvingrove, bonnie lassie O, 

Through it's mazes let us rove, bonnie lassie O: 

Where the rose in all her pride, 

Paints the hollow dingle side, 

Where the midnight fairies glide, bonnie lassie O.

Let us wander by the mill, bonnie lassie O, 

To the cove beside the rill, bonnie lassie O; 

Where the glens rebound the call 

Of the roaring waters' fall, 

Through the mountain's rocky hall, bonnie lassie O.

O Kelvin banks are fair, bonnie lassie O, 

When the summer we are there, bonnie lassie O; 

There the May-pink's crimson plume 

Throws a soft, but sweet perfume 

Round the yellow banks of broom, bonnie lassie O.

Though I dare not call thee mine, bonnie lassie O, 

As the smile of fortune's thine, bonnie lassie O; 

Yet with fortune on my side, 

I could stay thy father's pride, 

And win thee for my bride, bonnie lassie O.

But the frowns of fortune lour, bonnie lassie O, 

On thy lover at this hour, bonnie lassie O; 

Ere yon golden orb of day 

Wake the warblers on the spray, 

From this land I must away, bonnie lassie O.

Then farewell to Kelvin Grove, bonnie lassie O, 

And adieu to all I love, bonnie lassie O; 

To the river winding clear, 

To the fragrant scented brier, 

E'en to thee of all most dear, bonnie lassie O.

When upon a foreign shore, bonnie lassie O, 

Should I fall midst battle's roar, bonnie lassie O; 

Then Helen, shouldst thou hear 

Of thy lover on his bier, 

To his memory shed a tear, bonnie lassie O. 

PLUS THE BONUS

Linn Park, Glasgow

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Westering Home

Westering home, and a song in the air,

Light in the eye, and it's goodbye to care.

Laughter o' love, and a welcoming there,

Isle of my heart, my own one.

Tell me o' lands o' the Orient gay,

Speak o' the riches and joys o' Cathay;

Eh, but it's grand to be wakin' ilk day

To find yourself nearer to Isla.

Where are the folk like the folk o' the west?

Canty, and couthy, and kindly, the best.

There I would hie me and there I would rest

At hame wi' my ain folk in Isla.

PLUS THE BONUS 

Loch Lomond

The blog is updated every day

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Coulters Candy

by Robert Coltart 1832-80

Ally, bally, ally bally bee, 

Sittin' on yer mammy's knee 

Greetin' for anither bawbee, 

Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy.

Ally. bally, ally, bally bee, 

When you grow up you'll gae tae sea, 

Makin' pennies for your daddy and me, 

Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy.

Mammy gie me ma thrifty doon, 

Here's auld Coulter comin' roon' 

Wi' a basket on his croon 

Selling Coulter's Candy.

Little Annie's greetin' tae, 

Sae whit can puir wee Mammy dae, 

But gie them a penny atween them twae 

Tae buy mair Coulter's Candy.

Poor wee Jeannie's lookin' affa' thin, 

A rickle o' banes covered ower wi' skin, 

Noo she's gettin' a double chin 

Wi' sookin' Coulter's Candy.

AND THIS IS A BONUS -

Beaufort Castle, Beauly

The Blog will be updated every day at 8 a.m.

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