Scottish Song Words

Compiled by Dick Oakes

Mairi's Wedding

        Chorus:
        Step we gaily, one we go,
        Heel for heel and toe for toe,
        Arm in arm and row on row,
        All for Mairi's wedding.
 
Over hillways up and down,
Myrtle green and bracken brown,
Past the Sheiling, through the town,
All for the sake of Mairi.
 
Chorus
 
Red her cheeks as rowans are,
Bright her eye as any star,
Fairest of them all by far,
That's our darling Mairi.
 
Chorus
 
Plent herring, plenty meal,
Plenty peat to fill her creel,
Plenty bonnie bairns to weel,
That's our toast to Mairi.
 
Chorus
 

Road to the Isles

Oh, a far croonin' is a-pullin' me away
As take I wi' my cromak to the road.
Oh, the far Coolins ar puttin' love on me
As step I wi' the sunlight for my load.
 
        Chorus:
        Sure, by Tummel and Lock Rannoch
        And Loch Aber I will go,
        By heather tracks wi' heaven in their wiles,
        If it's thinkin' in your inner heart
        The braggart's in my step,
        You've never smelt the tangle o' the Isles.
 
It's by Sheil water the track is to the west,
By Aillort and by Morar to the sea.
The cool cresses I am thinkin' o' for pluck,
And bracken for a wink on Mother's knee.
 
Chorus
 
Its the blue islands are pullin' me away,
Their laughter puts the leap upon the lame.
The blue islands from the Skerries to the Lews
Wi' heather honey taste upon each name.
 
Chorus