Digital Tradition Mirror

Waly, Waly 3

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Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Waly, Waly 3

Oh waly waly up the bank and waly waly down the brae
And waly waly yon burnside where I and my love wont to gae.

I lean'd my back unto an aik I thocht it was a trusty tree
But first it bow'd an syne it brak and sae did my fause love tae me.

Oh waly waly but love be bonny a little time when it is new
But when it's auld it waxes cauld and fades away like morning dew

Oh wherefore should I busk my heid or wherefore should I kame my hair?
For my true love has me forsook and says he'll never love me mair.

Now Arthur's seat shall be my bed, the sheets shall ne'er be pressed by me
St. Anton's well shall be my drink since my true love has forsaken me

Martinmas wind when wilt thou blaw and shake the green leaves off the tree
Oh gentle death when wilt thou come, for of my life I am wearie.
'Tis not the frost that freezes fell nor blawing snaw's inclemencie
'Tis not sic cauld that mak's me cry, but my love's heart's grown cauld
        tae me

When we came in by Glasgow toun, we were a comely sight tae see
My love was clad in the black velvet and I myself incrammasie

But had I wist before I kissed that love had been sae ill tae win
I'd lock'd my heart in a case of gold and pinned it wi' a siller pin

Oh, oh if my young babe were born and set upon the nurses' knee
And I myself was dead and gone and the green grass growing over me

printed in 101 Scottich Songs by Norman Buchan (1962), who says:
   first printed in Orpheus Caledonius (1725)
   "Waly, waly is part of a ballad called Jamie Douglas, but contrary to the
whole feel of the song form, the ballad is not about the betrayed and forsaken
maid, but of a rejected wife.  The story itself is the simple one of the local
Iago, one Lawrie, the chamberlain of Lord James Douglas, who falsely accused
the lady of adultery."

SOF

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