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Farewell To Sicily
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The pipie is dozie, the pipie is fey
He wullnae come roun for his vino the day
The sky owre Messina is unco an gray
An aa the bricht chaumers are eerie
Fareweill ye banks o Sicily
Fare ye weill ye valley an shaw
There's nae Jock will murn the kyles o ye
Aa the bricht chaumers are eerie
[Puir bliddy swaddies are wearie]
Fareweill ye banks o Sicily
Fare ye weill ye valley an shaw
There's nae hame can smour the wiles o ye
Aa the bricht chaumers are eerie
[Puir bliddy swaddies are wearie]
Then doun the stair an line the watterside
Wait yer turn the ferry's awa
Then doun the stair an line the watterside
Aa the bricht chaumers are eerie
The drummie is polisht, the drummie is braw
He cannae be seen for his wabbin ava
He's beezed himsell up for a photie an aa
Tae leave wi his Lola, his dearie
Fareweill ye banks o Sicily
Fare ye weill ye sheilin an haa
We'll aa mind shebeens an bothies
Whaur kind signorinas were cheerie
Fareweill ye banks o Sicily
Fare ye weill ye sheilin an haa
We'll aa mind shebeens an bothies
Whaur Jock made a date wi his dearie
Then tune the pipes an drub the tenor drum
Leave yer kit this side o the waa
Then tune the pipes an drub the tenor drum
Puir bluidy swaddies are wearie
[Aa the bricht chaumers are eerie]
Written by Hamish Henderson to the tune "Farewell To The Creeks", composed by Pipe-Major James Robertson.
In the true folk process, slight alterations have developed over the years in the way I sing this. Where the words I sing differ from those actually written by Hamish, I have put Hamish's original in square brackets.
Jack Mitchell's excellent 1966 article on "Sicily" is well worth reading.
Help with language and pronunciation in the General Guide to Scots
Kist O' Gold (1976)
Sail On (1996)
Music is available for this song in these formats: |
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mp3 |
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Notation |
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MIDI |
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ABC |
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Gaughan Website
Song Archive
Song Index F
Farewell To Sicily