Song Lyrics
BLOODY ROTTEN AUDIENCE
(Tony Miles)
Well, here's a song I've written specifically for you
Who sit in the audience and talk through all I do
I cannot understand it cause I'm pretty good, you see
So there must be something wrong with you, there's nothing wrong with me
Chorus:
You're a bloody rotten audience whilst I am very good
If brains were made of oak and ash then you'd have balsa wood
I'm ethnic and authentic and I'm really full of class
While you're ignorant, you're cultureless, you're philistines en masse.
I'm an artist and authority on music and what's more
I'm incredible informative on folksong and folklore
I'm a wonderful performer and so you all must be
So bloody thick and stupid not to like the like of me
I'm a folkie and that's obvious, you can tell it by me clothes
And when I sing traditional, I sing it through me nose
And if you insist on talking every time I sing a song
I'll fix you with 'Bold Robin Hood', that's eighty verses long.
And when I sing contemporary, my heart and soul is pure
I must be bloody brilliant, cause my writing's so obscure
My hero's Leonard Cohen, I dig him perfectly
But I must be so much better, cause no one here digs me.
But now I'm going to leave you, cause I feel I'm wasting time
Couldn't possibly be wasting yours, so you must be wasting mine
And let me tell you now that I'm not out here for me health
So if you don't come and pull with me, I'll go and pull meself
Chorus:
You're a bloody rotten audience whilst I am very good
If brains were made of oak and ash then you'd have balsa wood
I'm ethnic and authentic and I'm really full of class
But underneath it all I'm just a pain in the flipping ass.
BLOODY SUNDAY
(John Lennon)
Well it was Sunday bloody Sunday when they shot the people there
The cries of thirteen martyrs filled the Free Derry air
Is there any one amongst you dare to blame it on the kids?
Not a soldier boy was bleeding when they nailed the coffin lids!
Chorus:
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
You claim to be majority well you know that it's a lie
You're really a minority on this sweet emerald isle
When Stormont bans our marches they've got a lot to learn
Internment is no answer it's those mothers' turn to burn!
Chorus:
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
You Anglo pigs and Scottish sent to colonize the North
You wave your bloody Union Jack and you know what it's worth!
How dare you hold to ransom a people proud and free
Keep Ireland for the Irish put the English back to sea!
Chorus:
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
Well, it's always bloody Sunday in the concentration camps
Keep Falls Road free forever from the bloody English hands
Repatriate to Britain all of you who call it home
Leave Ireland to the Irish not for London or for Rome!
Chorus:
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
Sunday bloody Sunday, Bloody Sunday's the day!
BOAT ME O'ER
Come boat me o'er, come ferry me o'er
Come me boat o'er to Charlie
And I'll give John Ross another "bawbie"
To ferry me o'er to Charlie
Chorus:
Come over the water, come over the sea
Come over the water to Charlie
Come weel, come woe, come gather and go
Come ferry me o'er to Charlie
It's well I love my Charlie's name
Although there are others that hate it
And I'd like to see old Nick chased home
And Charlie's foes run before him
Chorus:
Come over the water, come over the sea
Come over the water to Charlie
Come weel, come woe, come gather and go
Come ferry me o'er to Charlie
I swear by the moon and the stars above
I swear by the sun so early
If I had ten thousand lives
I'd give them all for Charlie
Chorus:
Come over the water, come over the sea
Come over the water to Charlie
If I had ten thousand lives
I'd give them all for Charlie
BOG DOWN IN THE VALLEY-O
Chorus:
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o.
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o.
Now in this bog there was a tree, a rare tree, a rattlin' tree,
A tree in the bog, in the bog down in the valley-o.
Chorus
Now on this tree there was a limb, a rare limb, a rattlin' limb,
A limb on the tree, and the tree in the bog, In the bog down in the valley-o.
Chorus
Now on this limb there was a branch, a rare branch,
A rattlin' branch, a branch on the limb, and the limb on the tree,
And the tree in the bog, in the bog down in the valley-o.
Chorus
Now on this branch there was a twig, a rare twig, a rattlin' twig,
A twig on the branch, and the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree, and the tree in the bog, In the bog down in the valley-o.
Chorus
Now on this twig there was a leaf, a rare leaf, a rattlin' leaf,
A leaf on the twig, and the twig on the branch,
And the branch on the limb, and the limb on the tree,
And the tree in the bog, in the bog down in the valley-o.
Chorus
Now on this leaf there was a bug, a rare bug, a rattlin' bug,
A bug on the leaf, and the leaf on the twig,
And the twig on the branch, and the branch on the limb,
And the limb on the tree, and the tree in the bog, In the bog down in the valley-o.
Chorus
Now on this bug there was a hair, a rare hair, a rattlin' hair,
A hair on the bug, and the bug on the leaf,
And the leaf on the twig, and the twig on the branch,
And the branch on the limb, and the limb on the tree, a
And the tree in the bog, in the bog down in the valley-o.
Chorus
Chorus
THE BOLD FENIAN MEN
See who comes over the red-blossomed heather
Their green banners kissing the pure mountain air
Heads erect, eyes to front, stepping proudly together
Sure freedom sits thronged on each proud spirit there
Down the hill twining, their blessed steel shining
Like rivers of beauty that flow from each glen
From mountain and valley, 'tis liberty's rally
Out and make way for the bold Fenian men
Our prayers and our tears, they have scoffed and derided
They've shut out the sunlight from spirit and mind
Our foes were united and we were divided
We met and they scattered our ranks to the wind
But once more returning, within our veins burning
The fires that illumined dark Aherlow Glen
We raise the cry anew slogan of Conn and Hugh
Out and make way for the bold Fenian men
We've men from the Nore, from the Suir and the Shannon
Let tyrants come forth, we'll bring force against force
Our pen is the sword and our voice is the cannon
Rifle for rifle and horse against horse
We've made the false Saxon yield many a red battlefield
God on our side we will triumph again
Pay them back woe for woe; give them back blow for blow
Out and make way for the bold Fenian men
Side by side for the cause have our forefathers battled
When our hills never echoed the tread of a slave
In many field a where the leaden hail rattled
Through the red gap of glory they marched to their grave
And those who inherit their name and their spirit
Will march 'neath the banners of Liberty then
All who love foreign law, native of Sassenach
Out and make way for the bold Fenian men
BOLD O'DONOGHUE
Here I am from Paddy's Land, the land of high renown
I broke the hearts of all the girls for miles round Keady Town
And when they hear that I'm a'wa they'll raise a hullabaloo
When they hear about the handsome man they call O'Donoghue
Chorus:
For I'm the boy to please her and I'm the boy to tease her
I'm the boy can squeeze her and I'll you what I'll do
I'll court her like an Irishman, with a brogue and blarney to is me plan
With me huligan, wuligan, ruligan, swuligan, Bold O'Donoghue
I wish me love was a red, red rose growin' on yon garden wall
And me to be a dew drop and upon her brow I'd fall
Perhaps now she might think of me as rather heavy dew
No more to love that handsome man they call O'Donoghue
Chorus
I hear that Queen Victoria has a daughter fine and grand
Perhaps she'll take it in to her head for to marry an Irishman
And if I can only get a chance to have a word or two
Perhaps she'll take a notion to the bold O'Donoghue
Chorus
BONNIE CHARLIE
Bonnie Charlie's now awa safely o'er the friendly main
Many's the heart will break in twa should he no come back again
Chorus:
Will ye no come back again will ye no come back again
Better loved ye canna be will ye no come back again
Ye trusted in your Hieland men, they trusted yon dear Charlie
They kent your hiding in the glen, Death and exile braving
Chorus:
Will ye no come back again will ye no come back again
Better loved ye canna be will ye no come back again
English bribes were a' in vain tho' puir and puirer we maun be
Siller canna buy the heart, That aye beats warm for thine and thee
Chorus:
Will ye no come back again will ye no come back again
Better loved ye canna be will ye no come back again
We watch'd thee in the gloamin' hour, we watch'd thee in the mornin' grey
Tho' thirty thousands pounds were gi'e Oh there's nane that wad betray
Chorus:
Will ye no come back again will ye no come back again
Better loved ye canna be will ye no come back again
Sweet's the lav'rock's note, and lang, liltin' wildly up the glen
But aye to me he sings a sang, Will ye no come back again
Chorus:
Will ye no come back again will ye no come back again
Better loved ye canna be will ye no come back again
BONNIE DUNDEE
(Sir Walter Scott)
Tae the Lords o' convention ‘twas Claverhouse spoke
E'er the King's Crown go down there are crowns to be broke
So each caviler who loves honor and me
Let him follow the bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee
Chorus:
Come fill up my cup, come fill up can
Come saddle my horses and call out my men
Unhook the West Port and let us gae free
For it's up with the bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee
Dundee he is mounted and rides up the street
The bells tae ring backwards, the drums tae are beat
But the provost douce man says, ‘Just let it be.'
When the toon is well rid o' that devil Dundee
Chorus
There are hills beyond Pentland and lands beyond Forth
Be there lords in the south, there are chiefs in the north
There are brave downie wassles three thousand times three
Cry hey for the bonnets o' Bonnie Dundee
Chorus
Then awa tae the hill to the lee and the rocks
Ere I own a usurper I'll crouch with the fox
So tremble false wigs in the midst of yer glee
For you've no seen the last of my bonnets and me
Chorus
BONNIE JAMES CAMPBELL
Hie upon Hielands and laigh upon Tay,
Bonnie James Campbell rade oot on a day
Saddled and bridled, sae bonnie rade he,
Hame cam' his guld 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."
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
Hie upon Hielands and laigh upon Tay,
Bonnie James Campbell rade oot on a day,
Saddled and bridled, sae bonny rade lie,
Hame cam' his guid horse but never cam' he
THE BONNY LASS O' FYVIE
There once was a troop o' Irish Dragoons
Came marchin' doon through Fyvie o
And their Captain fell in love wi' a very bonnie lass
And her name it was called pretty Peggy o
Now there's many a bonnie lass in the Howe o' Auchterless
There's many a bonnie lass in the Geerie o
There's many a bonnie Jean in the town o' Aberdeen
But the flower o' them all is in Fyvie o
Come down the stair, pretty Peggy, my dear
Come down the stair, pretty Peggy o
Come down the stair, comb back your yellow hair
Take a last farewell to your Daddy o
A soldier's wife I never shall be
I never shall marry a soldier o
I never do intend to visit foreign lands
A soldier never shall enjoy me o
A soldier's wife ye never shall be
For ye'll be the Captain's lady o
And the regiment shall stand will their hats in tae their hands
And they'll bow in the presense o' my Peggy o
It's braw, aye, it's braw a Captain's lady for tae be
It's braw to be a Captain's lady o
It's braw tae rant and rove and tae follow at his word
And tae march when your Captain he is ready o
But the Colonel he cries, "Mount, mount boys mount"
The Captain he cries, "Tarry o!"
"Oh, gang nae awa for another day or twa,"
"Till we see if this bonnie lass will marry o."
It was early next morning that we rode awa
And oh, but our Captain he was sorry o
They drums they did beat o'er the bonnie braes o' Gecht
And the band played the Lowlands o' Fyvie o
Long ere we came in tae old Meldrum town
It's we had our Captain tae carry o
And long ere we came in tae bonnie Aberdeen
It's we had our Captain to tae bury o
Green grow the brik upon bonnie Eithenside
And low lies the lowlands o' Fyvie o
The Captain's name was Ned and he died for a maid
He died for the bonnie lass o' Fyvie o
THE BONNY SHIP THE DIAMOND
Oh, the Diamond is a ship, me lads, for the Davis Straits she bound
And the quay it is all garnished with bonny lassies round
Captain Thompson gives orders, to sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets, me lads, nor darkness dims the sky
Chorus:
And it's cheer up, me lads, let your heart never fail
For the bonny ship the Diamond goes a huntin' for the whale
Along the quay at Peter Heid the lassies gather round
With the shawls all wrapped about them and the salt tears running down
Don't you weep, me bonny lads, though you'll be left behind
For rose will grow on Greenland's ice before we change our mind
Chorus:
And it's cheer up, me lads, let your heart never fail
For the bonny ship the Diamond goes a huntin' for the whale
Here's a health to the Constitution, likewise the Eliza Swan
Here's a health to the battler O' Montrose and the Diamond ship of fame
We'll trousers of the white and the jackets of the blue
When we return to Peter Heid with have sweethearts a new
Chorus:
And it's cheer up, me lads, let your heart never fail
For the bonny ship the Diamond goes a huntin' for the whale
It'll bright both day and night, when Greenland lads come home
With a ship that's full of oil, me lads, and money to our name
We'll make the cradles for to rock and the blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peter Heid, sez, ‘Hush a bye, me dear'
Chorus:
And it's cheer up, me lads, let your heart never fail
For the bonny ship the Diamond goes a huntin' for the whale
And it's cheer up, me lads, let your heart never fail
For the bonny ship the Diamond goes a huntin' for the whale
BOOMERANG
(Matt McGinn/Gordon McCulloch)
Chorus:
Boomerang, boomerang, just send them back whaur they belang
Alang wi' auld Adenauer, Kennedy's pal
Signor Fanfani and Chairlie de Gaulle
For we dinnae like gifts that go bang
Just try one and see if I'm wrang
The banners are wavin', wha's next for the shavin'
So open the boom, boomerang
Noo they say that the arms ships doon at Dunnoon
Belang tae a big millionaire
Well, ah hope tae hell they get oot o' there soon
Afore we're all up in the air
For the fella that sent them's an awfy nice chap
He sent them out here as a gift
For he'd heard the hotels in Dunnoon were depressed
And he wanted tae gie them a lift
Well there's yobs and there's mugs and there's OAS thugs
And Nazis and Dutchmen(?) galore
A' fear'd frae the Reds crawlin' under their beds
And walkin'(?) behind every door
But we're no takin' orders frae Paris or Bonn
We're no takin' orders frae Rome
We're no goin' alang wi' that Washington gang
We're just tellin' the nutmeg, Go home
But you needn't suppose I'm a Communist
Just 'cause I don't want to die
'Cos' I think that I'm down on their little list
For action if they should come by
But the Russians are thousands of miles away
And the Yankees are just up the road
And no matter who starts it, we'll be the target
Why don't we lighten the load
They say that the Trident ships doon at Faslane
Are there to protect you and me
From strange evil forces that threaten oor land
But they don't say just who they might be
But Scotland's got nae need for Trident at all
Withoot them we're a' daein' fine
Tell Major tae stick a' his nuclear bombs
In a place where the sun doesnae shine
BOOZING
(As sung by Jimmy Crowley)
Now what do you think I've been doing all day
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
And how do you think I've been spending my pay
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
Don't say I am wrong for you know I'm not right
Don't argue the toss for you know I can't fight
Where would you like me to take you tonight?
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
Chorus:
Boozing, boozing, when you are dry
Boozing, boozing, suits you and I
Some do it open, but more on the sly
Still all of us likes to go boozing
Now, what are the joys of the laboring man?
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
And what is he doin' whenever he can
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
Comes home on a Saturday gives his wife all
Goes to the market, makes many's a call
What brings him home clinging on to the wall?
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
Chorus
What does the Salvation Army shoot down?
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
And what are they preaching in every town
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
What they preach they don't practice, of that there's no doubt
For at the street corners they stand and they shout
But what are they doin' when the lights are gone out
Boozing, bloody well, boozing
Chorus
BOOZING
(As sung by Hamish Imlach)
Chorus:
Boozing, boozing, just you and I
Boozing, boozing when we get dry
Some do it open and some on the sly
But we're always bloody well boozing
Where do you think we have been all the night?
Boozing, bloody well boozing
And how do you think that we've got all so tight? Boozing, bloody well boozing
You may think me wrong or you may think me right
You may think me dim or you may think me bright
But what do you think we'll be doing tonight Boozing, bloody well boozing
What is the thing I love more than my tea? Boozing, bloody well boozing
What makes you keep whippin' off for a wee? Boozing, bloody well boozing
Your pocket gets empty and your bladder gets tight
You're gargling this beer the best part of the night
Your nose goes blood red but your face goes all white Boozing, bloody well boozing
What is the thing that the clergy pull down? Boozing, bloody well boozing
What do they preach about in every town? Boozing, bloody well boozing
They curse it and they call it and they holler it about
They're talking about something they know plenty about
For where do you find them when all lights are out? Boozing, bloody well boozing
What is the thing I love more than my wife? Boozing, bloody well boozing
What is the thing that's the plague of my life? Boozing, bloody well boozing
As you roll home in the morning she starts moaning at you
Says, lad, you're buggered - tomorrow you'll rue
She rolls down the bed, sayin', There's nothin' doin' for you You've been boozing, bloody well boozing