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The Bonnie Lad

[ Roud 6324 ; G/D 6:1112 ; words Robert Burns, music Kim Edgar]

Kim Edgar sang Robert Burns’ poem The Bonnie Lad in 2008 on her CD Butterflies and Broken Glass. She also recorded it in 2013 with Cara for their CD Horizon. The latter album’s sleeve notes commented:

As a part of the songwriting collective “The Burns Unit” and the organisation “Burnsong”, Kim celebrates the ongoing legacy of the Scottish national poet for contemporary songwriters. She set this poem to a new tune—it’s a classic story of love and loss—with a hopeful ending.

Lyrics

Kim Edgar sings The Bonnie Lad

O how can I be blythe and glad,
O how can I gang brisk and braw,
When the bonnie lad that I love best,
Is o’er the hills and far awa?

It’s no the frosty winter wind,
It’s no the driving drift and snaw,
But ay the tear comes in my e’e,
To think on him that’s far awa.

My father pat me frae his door,
My friends they hae disown’d me a’;
But there is ane will take my part,
The bonnie lad that’s far awa.

A pair o gloves he brought to me,
And silken snoods he gaed me twa,
And I will wear them for his sake,
The bonnie lad that’s far awa.

O weary winter soon will pass,
And spring will cleed the birken shaw:
And my young babbie will be born,
And he’ll be hame that’s far awa.