Traditional: Braes of Balquhidder
The Braes O' Balquhidder
Robert Tannahill (1744-1810) of Robert Tannahill
Two verses and choruses: The Braes of Balquidder is sung by on their CD of
St. Valery.
Notes: there is very probable that this song was the original
form of "Wild Mountain Thyme."
It's a very lovely song, performed by the Tannahill Weavers on capernaum.
According to the capernaum liner notes, "The
Braes o' Balquihidder" appeared twice in R.A. Smith's Scottish
Minstrel (1821-1824) - Vol I, p. 49 and Vol. IV, p. 89. The
latter air is a modification of the first and is called "The
Three Carles o' Buchanan."
Irish traditional singer Elizabeth Cronin sang
this song, too, but the tune was quite different. In The Songs of Elizabeth
Cronin, the notes say "the song was composed by the Scottish poet
Robert Tannahill and set to music by R.A. Smith." This might be the first
version of Smith's tune.
Balquihidder is pronounced
bal'-whither.
The village of Balquidder lies in central
Scotland and is mainly known for being the burial place of Rob Roy. To this
day
the entire village consists of a cemetery and church ruins, a community
center,
a B&B, a shop or two and some absolutely breath-taking scenery.
Let us go, lassie, to,
Tae the braes o' Balquhidder,
Whar the blueberries grow
'Mang the bonnie Hielan heather
Whar the deer and the rae
Lichtly bounding thegither,
Sport the lang summer day
On the braes o' Balquhidder.
I will twin thee a bow'r
By the clear silver fountain,
And I'll cover it o'er
Wi' the flooers o' the mountain
I will range through the wilds
And the deep glens sae dreary,
And return wi' their spoils
Tae the bow'r o' my dearie.
Whe the rude wintry win'
Idly waves roun' oor dwellin'
And the roar o' the linn
On the night breeze is swellin'
So merrily we'll sing
As the storm rattles o'er us
Till the dear sheilin' ring
Wi' the light liltin chorus.
Noo the summers in prime
Wi' the flooers richly bloomin'
Wi' the wild mountain thyme
A' the moorlan's perfumin'
Tae oor dear native scenes
Let us journey thegither,
Whar glad innocence reigns,
Mang the braes o' Balquhidder.
Glossary:
brae - hill
twin - plait (braid/weave)
rae - roe deer
linn - waterfall
flooer - flower
hielan' - highland
lichtly - lightly
lang - long
mang - among
nicht - night
sheilin - cottage