Digital Tradition Mirror

The Bleacher Lassie o' Kelvin Ha'

The Bleacher Lassie o' Kelvin Ha'

 As I went out one summer's evening,
 As I went out by the Broomielaw,
 'Twas there I saw a charming creature
 She had cheeks like roses and skin like snaw.

 I said, Fair maid, where are you going?
 Or what do you do by the Broomielaw?
 Indeed kind sir, I will plainly tell you,
 I'm a bleacher lassie on Kelvinha'

 O lassie. lassie, do you remember
 On the ships that sailed by the Broomielaw
 And the sailor laddies that a' gaed a-courtin'
 The bleacher lassies on Kelvinha'

 O yes, O yes, I do remember
 On the ships that sailed by the Broomielaw
 And the sailor laddies that a' got tipsy
 For the bleacher lassies on Kelvinha'

 O lassie, lassie, would ye go wi' me,
 And I will busk ye in fine satin braw?
 Indeed, kind sir, I will plainly tell you
 I've a lad o' my ain but he's far awa'

 'Tis seven long years since he went and left me,
 It's seven long years since he went awa'
 But another seven I'll wait upon him
 And bleach a while on sweet Kelvinha'

 O Lassie, lassie, ye are hard-hearted,
 I wish your fair face I never saw,
 For my heart, my heart, it lies a-bleeding,
 For the bleacher lassie on Kelvinha'

 So they've gone down to yonder tavern,
 And they've drunk whisky a glass or twa
 And they've drunk whisky till they've got tipsy,
 And there he's wiled her poor heart awa'

 And now this couple they've got married,
 And keep an ale-house atween them twa,
 And the sailor laddies they a' go a-drinking
 For the bleacher lassies on Kelvinha'

 (for some reason I feel that there should be a
hint of a broken token somewhere but I can't find
it at present) Source for this version was Miss
Barbara Ingram.

 In version M there's a verse 6 that goes:-

 O lassie, lassie, Ye hae been faithful,
 And thought on me when far awa'
 True love will surely be rewarded,
 We'll part nae mair on sweet Kelvinhaugh.

I suspect that the Spinners' song came from a
version recorded by Isobel Sutherland on a 10"
LP a long time ago, when I get the chance I'll
compare the two, but in the meantime here's the
tenth version of 16 published in Vol 5 of The
Greig-Duncan Folksong Collection.

BJ
oct99

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!