Lyrics - Helen Fullarton
Melody - Traditional/Adapted Alison McMorland & Geordie McIntyre (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - Emily Smith & Jamie McClennan

I ken a lass she has nae name
Nor hame that she will own to
She traivels lighter than the swan
That builds its nest on Lochan Dhu

Chorus:
It's will ye bundle and will ye go
And are ye awa tae leave me
It's will ye bundle and will ye go
Or up the Shian wi me

Let Inverara folk look doon
She's sunshine tae the Shira
And gans mair braw in her apron
Than they in aa their gear

Her hands sae rough wi weary work
The mair her face entrances
As whiter blooms the April thorn
Upon it's blackened branches

The flooer that twines in yon broon hedge
Grows sweet for the wayfarer
But I wouldna gie my traiveller's joy
For the rose o Inverara

Wi doon cast eyes she'll pass us by
Withoot a word for ony
Just like the little mountain road
As bleek and dour and bonny

I ken a lass she has nae hairt
Ayeways awa tae leave us
She's gane aa through the mountain range
Nae mair she says she'll see us

Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - E. Smith & J. McClennan

I'll swim the ocean blue, dive the sea so deep
To claim a pearl for you, a token for to keep
A token of my love, a place to store up all your wishes
And whisper to the doves, until I come home to you

Chorus:            
Put your hand in mine love, I won't let you walk alone
Put your hand in mine love, and I will take you home

I'll scale the highest peak, listen for the eagle's cry
Into her nest I'd peek, oh if only I could fly
A feather I would take, craft into a quill
And a present it would make, until I come home to you

These places I would go, I'd travel without rest
Just to let you know, that I would do my best
To cast your fears aside, shelter you from every storm
And I look for no return, but to come back home to you

Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged – E. Smith

You and I, we could fly tonight
You and I, we could write a lullaby, and then
Go see the stars and touch the surface of the moon
But you have your dreams and I have my lullabies

You like to see the girl I was when we first met
The smile on my face before the lines of life's regrets, and now
I'm holding the mask of expectation that I wear
But you have your dreams and I have my lullabies

You and I
You and I

The black of the night pushes down upon my chest
I blink in the dark while by my side you get your rest, and then
The light of the morning brings some comfort to my eyes
But you have your dreams and I have my lullabies

You and I
You and I

Lyrics - Traditional/Emily Smith
Melody - Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - E. Smith & J. McClennan

A variant of the ballad ‘The Elfin Knight’ (Child no.2), I love the exchange of riddles and impossible tasks set between the two characters.  The version I started with was collected in Coleraine, Ulster.  Other versions have been collected in Scotland, England and North America.

As I cam o’er by Bonny Moor Hill
Every rose grows bonny in time
I met a wee lass, and they ca’ed her Nell
Longing to be a sweet lover o mine

It’s questions three I’ll ask o thee
Every rose grows bonny in time
And it’s questions three you maun answer me
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

You maun mak me a cambric shirt
Every rose grows bonny in time
Withoot one stitch o your needlework
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

You maun wash it in yonder well
Every rose grows bonny in time
Where water ne’er ran and rain never fell
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

Then dry it oot on yonder thorn           
Every rose grows bonny in time
Where blossom ne’er bloomed since Adam was born
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

It’s questions three you’ve asked o me
Every rose grows bonny in time
And it’s questions three you’ll noo answer me
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

You maun get me an acre of land
Every rose grows bonny in time
Atween the saut sea and sea water strand
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

Then plough it aa wi an auld ram’s horn
Every rose grows bonny in time
And then sow it o’er wi one grain of corn
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

You maun sheer it with a sickle of leather
Every rose grows bonny in time
And bind it up wi a peacock’s feather
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

Then stook it o’er on yonder sea
Every rose grows bonny in time
And bring the shell sheaf dry unto me
Before you are a sweet lover o mine

When you’ve done and finished your work
Every rose grows bonny in time
You may call untae me for your cambric shirt
And you shall be a sweet lover o mine

Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - E. Smith & J. McClennan

I wrote the melody for this song as an accordion instrumental pre-gig at Valencia Creek Hall, Vic, Australia.  The lyrics came later when back home in Scotland.

How many feet have walked this road
Who's shadow stretched on the path before me
How many more are still to come and make their own way
And still we dance on

The choices made affect us all
But only few will seek the answer
And fewer still will risk the fall to make their own way
And still we dance on

Falling, Falling, still we dance on
Falling, Falling, still we dance on
Falling, Falling, still we dance on
Falling, Falling, Falling

Riches gained can build a wall
But riches stored in hearts are stronger
Stones of gold will some day fade to show our own way
And still we dance on

Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - E. Smith & J. McClennan

Written on a beautiful summer's afternoon in Goderich, Ont, Canada gazing out to the horizon of Lake Huron, one of the largest lakes in North America.

One fine day, when home feels so far away
I think of you as I look out to the horizon
Water blue, is it raining there with you?
It's clear today as I look out to the horizon

Chorus:           
Butterflies swoop, Butterflies fall
And as I look I think of you all
Butterflies swoop, Butterflies fall
And I think of you all today

Sky at night brings a changing of the light
Crimson sun slowly sinks to the horizon
A storm comes in and lanterns dance upon the wind
Falling star, oh I hope it falls for you

If I return, I'll bring you here with me           
And side by side we'll look out to the horizon
We'll see those…

Richard Thompson (Bug Music)
Arranged: E. Smith

Oh play me a blues song and fade down the light
I'm sad as a proud man can be sad tonight
Just let me dream on, oh just let me sway
While the sweet violins and the saxophones play
And Miss, you don't know me, but can't we pretend
That we care for each other, till the band reach the end

Chorus:           
One step for aching
Two steps for breaking
Waltzing's for dreamers
And losers in love
One step for sighing and
Two steps for crying
Waltzing's for dreamers
And losers in love

They say love's for gamblers, the pendulum swings
I bet hard on love and I lost everything
So don't send me home now, put a shot in my arm
And we'll drink out old memories and we'll drink in the dawn
And Mr. Bandleader, won't you play one more time
For I've good folding money in this pocket of mine

Chorus

And Miss, you don't know me, but can't we pretend
That we care for each other, till the band reach the end

Chorus

Lyrics - Robert Hettrick (public domain)/Adapted E. Smith
Melody - Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - E. Smith, J. McClennan & D. Lyall

The lyrics for this song came from ‘Hettrick’s Poems and Songs’ by Robert Hettrick a poet from Ayrshire (1769 -1849).  The book was given to me by a local shepherd who carried it on his quad bike throughout lambing season hoping to bump into me walking the country roads.

Roll on, lovely Doon, all amang the green valleys
The fields which I used to adore
I will wander beside you and weep in the willows
Where my Billy did wander before

My Billy was handsome, with manners adorning
He was the sport of the youths on the lawn
He was as fresh as the rose on a sweet summer’s morning
Embathed in the dew of the dawn

The lamb on the mountain could not be more artless
The dove no more constant than he
When the gaudy assembled for the night-brawling parties
My Billy came always to me

Roll on lovely Doon, Roll on lovely Doon

When the work of the day in the meadow was over
By the light of the pale silver moon
I would wander and talk with my true hearted lover
Amang the sweet windings of Doon

Alas he did sail to a far distant nation
Embossed in the white rolling wave
Where the sons of the wealthy divide the plantation
My Billy got nought but a grave

Oh the sailors burst out in a heart felt emotion
Our messmate alas is no more
And they wept as they weighed to return across the ocean
For the youth they entombed on the shore

The scourge of the climes has destroyed all the blossom
The blossom by right that was mine

Traditional/Adapted Tim Eriksen (Big Tiger Music, BMI)
Arranged - E. Smith & J. McClennan

A brilliant version of the ballad ‘The Gypsy Laddie’ (Child 200).  American balladeer Tim Eriksen recorded it with the band Cordelia’s Dad on their album ‘Comet’ (Omnium/NORMAL, 1995)

The gypsy king cam over the hill
Defying storm and danger
It seemed to be my lot to fall
In love wi the dark eyed stranger

I gave tae him o the good wheat bread
And he gave tae me the ginger
I gave tae him a better thing
Aa the gold frae off my fingers

And he has asked me tae be his wife
Tae be his honoured lady
He’s asked me tae leave my home and kin
And follow the Gypsy Davy

They tell me tae marry beneath my rank
Is nothing short of danger
But title and gold cannot compare
With my love for the dark-eyed stranger

So she's ta’en off her high-heeled shoes
Aa made wi Spanish leather
She's gone doon in her low-heeled shoes
And they rode off together

They rode high and they rode low
They rode so late and early
They rode till they cam tae the dark blue sea
And oh but she was weary

Said last night I slept in a down-feather bed
An honoured and titled lady
But tonight I'll sleep in the green, green fields
In the arms of my Gypsy Davy

And when the lord cam home in the night
Inquiring for his lady
The servants made him this reply
She's gone wi the Gypsy Davy

Gae saddle tae me my little yellow mare
The grey one's not so speedy
I’ll ride aa day and I’ll ride aa night
And I'll overtake my lady

Well he rode til he cam to the dark blue sea
It looked so dark and dreary
There he spied his own dear bride
By the side of the Gypsy Davy

Oh will you come home, my dear, my love
Will you come home my darlin
I'll keep you safe in a close, close room
Where no man will ever come near you

No I won't come home, my dear, my love
I won’t come home my darlin
If I brew good beer I'll drink the same
And you'll no more come near me

So she's ta’en off her long blue gloves
Aa made wi Spanish leather
She waved fareweel with her little white hands
She waved fareweel forever

Said last night I slept in a down-feather bed
An honoured and titled lady
But tonight I'll sleep in the green, green fields
In the arms of my Gypsy Davy

Traditional/Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - E. Smith & J. McClennan

I learnt this song from Scots song tutor Andy Hunter during my years at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.  Andy learnt it from Jeannie Robertson, a traveller from Aberdeenshire whose legacy of songs  and ballads has made her a monumental figure in Scottish traditional song.

Where hae ye bin aa the day Lord Donald my son?
Where hae ye bin aa the day my bonnie young man?
I hae been tae the green woods, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm weary wi huntin and I fain would lie doon

Wha did ye meet in the green woods Lord Donald my son?
Wha did ye meet in the green woods my bonnie young man?
I met wi my sweethairt, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm weary wi huntin and I fain would lie doon

What did ye hae for your dinner Lord Donald my son?
What did ye hae for your dinner my bonnie young man?
I had eels boiled in bree, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm weary wi huntin and I fain would lie doon

Oh I fear ye are poisoned Lord Donald my son
Oh I fear ye are poisoned my bonnie young man
Oh I am poisoned mother, gan and mak my bed soon
For I'm sick at the hairt and I fain would lie doon

What will ye leave tae yer brither Lord Donald my son?
What will ye leave tae yer brither my bonnie young man?
Aa ma hooses and land, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm sick at the hairt and I fain would lie doon

What will ye leave tae your sweethairt Lord Donald my son?
What will ye leave tae yer sweethairt my bonnie young man?
A noose in yon high tree, mother mak my bed soon
For I'm sick at the hairt and I fain would lie doon

 

Rick Kemp (Kempire Ltd/Peermusic (UK) Ltd)
Arranged - E. Smith & J. McClennan

Somewhere along the road, someone waits for me
Beyond the present storms that blow, waiting patiently
No secrets held in an open heart
A spirit that soars over mountains
Somewhere along the road, someone waits for me

Somehow a guiding light always shows the way
To those who lose their way by night, searching for the day
A day away from happiness
Tomorrow will bring a new sunrise
Somewhere along the road, someone waits for me

Sometimes when winds are still, unexpectedly
Perhaps beyond this silent hill a voice will come to me
Raise your eyes and see my world
Raise your voice and sing out
Somewhere along the road, someone waits for me

Traditional/Adapted E. Smith (MCPS/PRS)
Arranged - E. Smith 

A song I have enjoyed singing for several years now.  Many different versions exist essentially of the same story, often under different titles.  My version has been adapted from a recording of Lizzie Higgins, the daughter of Jeannie Robertson, which she recorded on her album ‘What A Voice’ (Lismor Recordings 1985).

What a voice, oh what a voice, oh what a voice I hear
It is like the voice o Willie my dear
And if I had wings like that swallow up high
I would clasp in the arms o ma Billy boy

Oh for when my apron it hung low
My love would follow me through frost and snow
But noo ma apron it’s tae ma shins
He passes me by and ne’er spears in

For its up onto yon white hoose brae
He’s ta’en a strange girlie all upon his knee
And he’s telt her a tale that he yince telt me

Oh I wish, how I wish, oh I wish in vain
I wish I were a maid again
But a maid again I ne’er will be
Until an aipple it grows on an orange tree