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The Queen Among The Heather
Previously unreleased.
For it's up a wide and lonely glen
It was shared by many a lofty mountain,
For it being into the busy hands of men,
It being the first day that I went out a-hunting.
For it being to me a happy day,
There did I spy my roving fancy,
She was herding her yowes to their knowes,
And in amongst the carling heather.
For her coat was white, her gown was green,
Her body it being long and slender,
Wi' her cast-down look and her weel-far'd face,
It has ofttimes made my heart to wander.
For it's I've been to balls where they're bussy [adorned] and braw
[splendid],
And it's I've been as far as Balquiddher,
And the bonniest lassie that ever I saw,
She was kilted and barefooted amongst the heather.
Says I, "My lass, will you come with me.
And sleep with me in a bed of feathers?
I'll gie ye silks and scarlets that will make ye shine,
And leave all your mains [complaints] amongst the heather."
She said, "My lad, you're very fair,
I really think you're all for sportin'.
For it's your being the son of high squire man,
And me but a poor humble shepherd's daughter."
But it's her I sought, and her I got,
And it's her I really intend to marry.
Fare-ye-weel, fare-ye-weel to your heather hills,
Fare-ye-weel, fare-ye-weel, my song it is ended.
This song is known variously as "Up a Wide and Lonely Glen," "Skippin'
Barefoot Through the Heather," and "Far Up Yon Wide and Lofty Glens." Its many
variants are widespread in the British Isles. In this sunniest of love stories,
no motives of greed or pregnancy force the union of the couple.
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