Digital Tradition Mirror

Bonnie Lassie-O (The Shearing's Nae for You) 2

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Bonnie Lassie-O (The Shearing's Nae for You) 2

   CHORUS:
   O the shearing's nae for you, my bonnie lassie-o,
   O the shearing's nae for you, my bonnie lassie-o,
   O the shearing's nae for you, for your back it winna boo,
   And your belly's roarin'* fu', my bonnie lassie-o.

Do you mind on yonder hill, my bonnie laddie-o,
Do you mind on yonder hill, my bonnie laddie-o,
Do you mind on yonder hill, when you swore you would me kill
Gin ye didnae hae your will, my bonnie laddie-o.

Do you mind the banks o' Ayre, my bonnie lassie-o,
Do you mind the banks o' Ayre, my bonnie lassie-o,
Do you mind the banks o' Ayre, when my hairt you did ensnare,
And you left me in despair, my bonnie lassie-o.

No, it's you I winna slay, my bonnie lassie-o,
No, it's you I winna slay, my bonnie lassie-o,
No, it's you I winna slay, for the drums do loudly play,
And I maun march away, my bonnie lassie-o.

* rollin' ? RG

From a large family of variants, with many variations in
text. The tune has been used for many other pieces. I learned
this version from Ross Sutter; I think he had it from Jean
Redpath (who learned it from Jeannie Robertson, and recorded
her version on "Father Adam"). The tune is commonly sung in
the Scottish schools, but using a flowery text by Thomas Lyle
called "Kelvin Grove." RW

glossary:
belly's roarin' (rollin'?) fu': belly is roaring full = late stages
   of pregnancy
boo: bow
didnae: did not
gin: if
hae: have
hairt: heart
maun: must
nae: not
winna: will not

RW

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!