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Bogie's Bonnie Belle
(Traditional)

Song Lyric as sung by Dick Gaughan

As A cam in by Huntly Toun
Ae mornin for tae fee
A fell in wi Bogie o Cairnie
An wi him A did agree

For tae caa his twa best horses
Or cairt or harrow or plou
Or dae onything about fairm wark
A very weil cud do

Auld Bogie had a dochter
Wha's name wis Isabelle
She wis the lily o the valley
An the primrose o the dell

Whan she went out walkin
She'd tak me for her guide
Doun by the burn o Cairnie
Tae watch smaa fishes glide

Bit whan five lang months wis past an gane
This lassie lost her blume
The reid fell frae her rosie cheeks
An her eyes began tae swoon

An whan nine lang months wis past an gane
She brocht forth tae me a son
An A wis quickly caad for
Tae see whit cud be done

A said that A wad mairrie her
Bit, och, that wadnae dae
He said, "Ye're nae match for ma bonnie Belle
An she's nae match for ye"

Sae nou she's marriet tae a traiveller chiel
Wha bides in Huntly Toun
He sells pots an pans an paraffin lamps
An he tramps the kintra roun

An if she's gotten a better match
Auld Bogie cannae tell
Sae fare weil ye lauds o Huntlyside
An Bogie's bonnie Belle

Song Notes

 

Glossary

The meanings of many Scots words can be inferred from context or similarity to English words with a common root. For the more difficult used in this song, here's a brief glossary.

fee :
take employment (seasonal farm work)
caa :
drive
cheil :
fellow
kintra :
country

More help in the General Guide to Scots


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Recorded by Dick Gaughan

Live performance only

Also recorded by

 

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Related pages on other sites

The following links are to other websites and I am not responsible for what you might find there. Sites do change without warning and it is impossible for me to keep checking that links go where they should.

Song Archive

Lyrics and music for songs sung by Dick Gaughan

Gaughan Website
Song Archive
Song Index B
Bogie's Bonnie Belle