Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)

Spider's hanging in his web
Waiting for the dawn
As if to show my path
The streetlight flickers on

And while inside the candle flame burns bright
I stand content warmed by the summer night
End of July, the stars shine up above
And I see inside a room filled with love

A mother's call drifts across the field
Her firstborn gone leaves a wound for time to heal
No wind today, no rain
I hope tomorrow might bring the same

And while inside the candle flame burns bright
I stand content warmed by the summer night
End of July, the stars shine up above
And I see inside a room filled with love

While in that room you sit and wait for me
If you looked out I wonder what you'd see

I stepped outside to breathe the evening in
A shepherd's sky ignites the sunset hymn
My senses reel as I fall into the sound
I try to move but my feet stick to the ground

And while inside the candle flame burns bright
I stand content warmed by the summer night
End of July, the stars shine up above
And I see inside a room filled with love
And I see inside a room filled with love
And I see inside a room filled with love

Words: Traditional
Melody: Tony Cuffe

A sailor and his true love
Lay doon tae mak their moan
When in by came ain o their countrymen
Sayin' rise up my bonny lassie
Mak haste and come awa
There's a vessel lying bound for Caledonia

Oh said the sailor, are ye willing for tae pay
Five hundred guineas
Afore on board ye gay?
I'll pay them plack and farthing
Afore on board I go
If ye'll tak me tae my bonny Caledonia

Oh said the sailor her money we will tak
And when we're on the sea
We'll throw her over deck
Or sell her for a slave
Lang ere she win ava
And she'll never see her bonny Caledonia

Well said the captain, well that'll never do
For there are nae slaves
Sold intae oor country noo
They'd hang us ane and a'
They would hang us every man
If we sold her for a slave to Caledonia

Well said the sailor she's lying doon below
She's bound hand and foot
Ready overboard to throw
She's bound hand and foot
Ready overboard to throw
And she'll never see her bonny Caledonia

So the captain away tae the fair maid he has gane
Says what is the reason
That ye're lying here sae lang
An' what is the reason
That ye're lying here at all?
For you've paid your passage dear tae Caledonia

Oh said the lassie, oh woe is me
That ever I was born
Sic hardships for tae see
For the sailors got a lassie
He likes better far than me
And it causes me to weep for Caledonia

So the captain away to the sailor he has gane
He's ta'en him by the neck
And him overboard has thrown
Saying tak this cup o' water
Though the liquor be but sma'
And drink your lassie's health tae Caledonia

They've sailed east and they've sailed west
Until they reached the land
That they a' loved the best
For the winds they did roar
And the seas they did beat
And they've all arrived safe to Caledonia

Well they hadna been there
But three quarters o' a year
When in fine silks and satins
He's made her for tae wear
When in fine silks and satins
He's made her for tae go
Noo she's the captain's wife in Caledonia
Noo she's the captain's wife in Caledonia

Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)

Audience of souls I’ll sit here before you
And I’ll sing to you a song
Sing to you a song

Absent of words, I’ll learn from the birds
And I’ll sing to you a song
Sing to you a song

Lend to me your ear for I know you have the time
And I’ll tell you some news
Tell you some news

Been away too long your friends have moved on
So I’ll tell you some news
Tell you some news

You can’t shake my hand or look me in the eye
But you’re glad that I came
Glad that I came

You can’t see my face or my name place
But you’re glad that I came
Glad that I came
So glad that I came
You’re glad that I came

Warmth from the sun it colours my skin
Means nothing to you
Nothing to you

You’re sheltered from pain, touched only by the rain
Means nothing to you
Nothing to you

Offerings we leave, what are they worth?
Do they mean much to you?
Mean much to you?

The comfort that it gives to the heart of a friend
Does it mean much to you?
Mean much to you?

From wisdom that you’ve gained
What advice would you give me?
And what would you change?
What would you change?

If you had your life again would you live it the same?
Tell me what would you change?
What would you change?
If you had your life again
Would you live it the same?
Tell me what would remain?
And what would you change?

Audience of souls I’ll sit here before you
And I’ll sing to you a song
Sing to you a song

Words: Robert Burns (Public Domain)
Melody: Traditional

As I was a wand'ring one midsummer's evening
The pipers and youths were makin their game
Well amang them I spied my faithless false lover
That bled a' the wounds o' my dolour again

Weel since he has left me may pleasure gae wi' him
I may be distressed but I winna complain
I'll flatter my fancy I may get another
My hairt it will never be broken for ane

I couldna get sleepin' til dawin' for greetin'
The tears trickled doon like the hail and the rain
Had I no got greetin' ma hairt it wad hae broken
For oh love forsakens a tormenting pain

Weel since he has left me may pleasure gae wi' him
I may be distressed but I winna complain
I'll flatter my fancy I may get another
My hairt it will never be broken for ane

Although he has left me for greed o' the siller
I don't envy him a' the gains he can win
I raither would bear a' the lade o' ma sorrow
Than ever hae acted sae faithless tae him

Weel since he has left me may pleasure gae wi' him
I may be distressed but I winna complain
I'll flatter my fancy I may get another
My hairt it will never be broken for ane

Weel since he has left me may pleasure gae wi' him
I may be distressed but I winna complain
I'll flatter my fancy I may get another
My hairt it will never be broken for ane

Traditional/Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)

False Sir John’s a wooing gone
To a maid o’ beauty fair
May Colven was this lady’s name
Her faither’s only heir

He woo’d her butt, he woo’d her ben
He woo’d her in the ha’
Until he got this lady’s consent
To mount and ride awa

They went doon to her faither’s bower
Where all the steeds did stand
And he’s ta’en yin o’ the best steeds there
Right frae her faither’s hands

He’s got on and she’s got on
As fast as they could flflee
Until they’ve come tae a lonesome part
A rock by the side o’ the sea

Higher rose the tide and faster he did ride

Loup offff the steed says false Sir John
Your bridal bed you see
For it’s seeven ladies I hae drooned
And the eighth yin ye shall be

Cast offff, cast offff May Colven
A’ and your silken gown
For it’s o’er guid and o’er costly
To rot in the salt sea foam

Weel turn ye aboot then false Sir John
Look to the leaf o’ the tree
For it ne’er becam a gentleman
A naked woman to see

So he turned himself straight roon’ aboot
To look to the leaf o’ the tree
So swift as May Colven was
She pushed him in the sea

O help, o help May Colven
O help or else I’ll droon
An’ I’ll tak ye back tae yer faither’s boo’er
And set you safe and soond

Nae help, nae help o’ false Sir John
Nae help nor pity for thee
For it’s seeven king’s daughters ye hae drooned
And the eighth yin’ll no be me

So she louped onto her faither’s steed
As swift as she could flflee
And she got hame tae her faither’s bower
Afore the break o’ day

Higher rose the tide and faster she did ride
Higher rose the tide and faster she did ride

Up then spak her pretty parrot
May Colven whaur hae ye been?
And what’s become o’ false Sir John
That woo’ed ye late yestreen?

O hold yer tongue my pretty bird
Lay not the blame on me
And yer cup shall be o’ the guid red gowd
And yer cage o‘ the root o’ tree

Up then spak the king himself
Frae the chamber whaur he lay
What ails thee May Colven’s bird
That prattles sae lang the day?

Well there cam a cat tae my cage door
It nearly worried me
And I was calling on May Colven
Tae tak the cat frae me

Words: Allan Cunningham(PD)/Emily Smith
Melody: Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)

A  maid has sat on the green merse side
For ten lang years and mair
An’ every night o’ the clear new moon
She combs her yellow hair
An‘ while she sheds her burning gowd
Full sweet she sings an hie
‘Til each bird that wooes the green wood
Is charmed and heaves a sigh

Wha e’er listens to that sweet sang
Or gangs the fair dame tae
Ne’er hears the sang o’ the lark again
Nor waukens an earthlie ee
It fell aboot the sweet summer month
In the first night o’ the moon
She sat upon a sea weed rock
And combed her silk locks doon

I’ve dwelt on the Nith said young Cowehill
For twenty years an’ three
The sweetest sang that e’er broke frae a lip
Comes through the greenwood tae me
Is it a voice frae twae earthlie lips
That makes sic a melody?
It wad tempt the lark frae the lift
And weel may it tempt me

Then up and spoke his little foot page
Sir I dreamed a dreary thing
I dreamed ye kissed a pair o’ sweet lips
And sadness did they bring
Come take my steed my little foot page
And hameward ye may gan
I maun kiss thae lips that sing
And through the greenwood he ran

Young Cowehill has the merse side reached
and seen the maid sat there
Wi’ ilka stroke o’ her pearlie comb
She bid him touch her hair
You maun kiss me ‘neath the chin
An syne come kiss my cheek
An’ spread my hanks o‘ watery hair
In the new moon beam to drip

So first he kissed her dimpled chin
And syne he kissed her cheek
And lang he woo’ed her willin’ lips
Like heather honey sweet
What will she say yer bonnie young bride
Busked wi’ the siller fine
When the kisses ye kept for her lips
Are left wi vows on mine?

He took his lips frae her red rose mou
His airm frae her waist sae sma
Sweet maiden I’m in bridal speed
It’s time I were awa
She pulled the bride ring frae his finger
And threw it in the sea
That hand shall grace nae other ring
But wi the will o’ me

She held him in her lillie white airms
An‘ left her pearlie comb
His fleecy locks trailed o’er the sand
And she took to the white sea foam

First raise the star oot o’er the hill
And neist the clear new moon
While the bride o‘ Gallowa’
Looked for her blithe bride groom
She laid the bride cake ‘neath her head
An’ syne below her feet
She laid down ‘tween the lillie white sheets
And soondlie did she sleep

‘Twas in the middle hour o’ the night
Her siller bell did ring
An sount’ as if nae earthlie hand
Had pulled the silken string
There was a cheek touch that young maid’s
Cauld as the marble stane
An’ a hand like icy snaw
Was laid on her breast bane

O cold is thy hand my Billy
O cold, cold is thy cheek
Ani wring thae locks o‘ yellow hair
Frae which the cold draps dreep
Seek anither bridegroom Marie
On thae bosom faulds tae sleep
My bride it is the water lillie
Its leaves my bridal sheet

Words and Music Traditional

As I was walking one summer’s evening
A walking doon by the Broomielaw
It‘s wha did I spy but a bonnie young lassie
She’d cherry cheeks aye, and a skin like snaw

Says I ma lassie will ye gan wi me?
I’ll dress ye up in fifine satins braw
Oh no kind sir I would raither tarry
A wee bleacher lass, here on Kelvinhaugh

Oh lassie, lassie, ye are hard hairted
I wish your fair face I never saw
For I will go an’ fifind another young lassie
Doon by the bleach fields o‘ Kelvinhaugh

Tis seeven years since I had a sweetheart
And seeven mair since I did him see
And seeven mair I will wait upon him
If he’s alive he’ll return to me

Oh lassie, lassie, ye hae been faithful
Oh lassie, lassie, ye hae been true
For I’m your young lad and single sailor
Wha’s come afar for tae wed wi’ you

If you’re my young lad and single sailor
Your face and features seem strange to me
But seeven years makes great alteration
Ah the ragin’ seas between you and me

It’s noo this couple they hae got mairried
And run an ale hoose atween them twa
And the sailor lads they aye come drinkin
Tae the bleacher lass o’ Kelvinhaugh

Emily Smith / David Scott (MCPS/PRS)

Come home pretty bird
It’s past your time
And the world’s spinning cycle
Won’t unwind
Won’t leave you suspended
Hanging on a cloud
It will carry you along somehow

Come home pretty bird
You’ve been too long away
And the brightness of your plumage
Won’t suit that winter grey
Come home to the summer
That’s where you belong
I missed your pretty song today

Oh I missed your pretty song
I missed your pretty song
I missed your pretty song today

They’ll be stuck there on the motorway
While the weather man says it’s snow
I’ll be out there, in the garden
Waiting for your sweet hello

All the birthdays forgotten
And conversations missed
We grow tired and resentful
For those we might have kissed
All the people going home
And people being born
They carry you along somehow

Oh they carry you along, they carry you along
They carry you along somehow
Oh they carry you along, carry you along
They carry you along somehow

Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)

A man with a calling, a mission in life
To keep alive the memory
Of those who made a sacrifice
He preserved the legacy
Of the lives that were lost
For the sake of the righteous
He took up his cross

A path lined with solitude
Was the route that he chose
Hammer and chisel
Were his tools for the road
A horse for companion
His one silent friend
She faithfully followed
Over hillside and glen

No bells rang for him
No prayers were sang for him

A son of the covenant
His own kin he disowned
They longed for a father
And to know where he roamed
Sent out in desperation
They searched all around
In churchyard or moor side
Was where he’d be found

No bells rang for him
No prayers were sang for him
No bells rang for him
No prayers were sang for him

A pilgrim for the martyrs
In his suit of hoddingrey
No money for his lodgings
Was he ever asked to pay
And in the light of sunrise
He’d travel on alone
He heard his brothers calling
As he tended to the stone

No bells rang for him
No prayers were sang for him
No bells rang for him
No prayers were sang for him

Emily Smith (MCPS/PRS)

The leaves are falling from the trees
Farewell for now warm summer breeze
Weather has been good this year
Now the winter will soon be here
The nights are drawing into shorter days
I hear the old folk and the country people say
Don’t fear the dark, nature has it all in hand
Time to reflect and renew the tired land

So we’ll stoke the fire and light the lamp
Turn our backs in from the damp
Settle down beneath the starry sky
Endure the winter passing by

I see the frost etched upon the glass
In the morning sun he soon moves fast
But he’ll be back to claim the frozen ground
With each clear day he surely will be found
The geese fly south to find a warmer home
While the weary bull he soldiers on alone
Children’s laughter it crackles in the air
Sparks fly high and they catch them if they dare

So we’ll stoke the fire and light the lamp
Turn our backs in from the damp
Settle down beneath the starry sky
Endure the winter passing by

With carols sung, the trees been taken down
We’ve passed a dram and the bells no longer sound
Snowdrops rise with promise of the spring
There’s talk and wonder
At what the year might bring
The blackbird starts to thicken up her nest
While the early lamb, he takes a snowy step
But the north wind’s grip it tightens with his chill
And holds the buds closed against their will

So we’ll stoke the fire and light the lamp
Turn our backs in from the damp
Settle down beneath the starry sky
Endure the winter passing by