Road Tae Dundee

Note: Also known as "Sweet Carnloch Bay" in Ireland, but I think this pre-dates that version. You'll notice the Lowland Scots interspersed. -- transposed from the singing of Murray Shoolbraid and copied from Mudcat Cafe website.

1] Cold winter was howlin’ o’er moorland and mountain And wild was the surge of the dark rolling sea When I met about daybreak a bonnie young lassie Who asked me the road and the miles to Dundee. 2] 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 to gang a wee bittie, I’ll show you the road and the miles to Dundee.” 3] The lassie consented and gie me her airm Not 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. 4] 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 showin’ me so far on the road to Dundee. 5] This ring and this purse please accept as a token And surely there’s somethin’ that ye can gi’e me, That in years to come I’ll the laddie remember Who showed me the road and the miles to Dundee?” 6] I took the gold pin frae the scarf on my bosom, And said, “Tak’ ye this, in remembrance o’ me”, And bravely I kissed the sweet lips o’ the lassie And I pairted frae her on the road to Dundee. 7] So here’s tae the lassie; I canna forget her, And ilka young laddie wha’s listenin’ to me, O never be sweir to convey a young lassie, Though it’s only to show her the road to Dundee.

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Updated on Wed, Mar 2, 2005
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