Song of the the Gillie More
(Hamish Henderson)
O horo the Gillie More
Whits the ploy yere on sae early?
Braw news, sae tell it rarely
O horo the Gillie More
News o him, yon muckle callant
Whistlin at the smiddy door.
Tak your bow, for heres your ballant
O horo the Gillie More
O horo the Gillie More
Come awa an gies your blether
Heres a dramll droon the weather
O horo the Gillie More
Sons o birk an pine an rowan
Jocks and Ivans by the score
Swappin yarns tae cowe the gowan
O horo the Gillie More
O horo the Gillie More
Noos the time, the haimmers ready,
Haud the tangs -- ay, haud them steady
O horo the Gillie More
Gar the iron ring, avallich!
Gar it ring frae shore tae shore.
Leith tae Kiev -- Don tae Gairloch
O horo the Gillie More
O horo the Gillie More"
Heres a weld'll wear forever.
_Oor_ grup they canna sever
O horo the Gillie More"
Anes the wish yokes us thegither --
Anes the darg that lies afore.
You an me: the man, the brither!
Me an you: the Gillie More.
As printed in Arthur Argos _Chapbook_ magazine Vol 3, No 6; c1966
Among messages of fraternal good wishes exchanged during Scottish-
Soviet friends Week, at the height of the Cold War, was one
"From the Blacksmiths of Leith to the Blacksmiths of Kiev." This
song was published by the Associated Blacksmiths Forge and
Smithy Workers Society to commemorate that event.
"Gillie More" (Gaelic, Gille Mor): big lad
"Ploy": affair, job
"Tae cowe the gowan": to beat all
"Avallich" (Gaelic, a bhalaich): my lad
"Darg": work, toil
CC
apr96
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!