> Folk Music > Songs > Mally Lee / Mallie Leigh
Mally Lee / Mallie Leigh
[
Roud 6130
; G/D 4:720
; Ballad Index FVS176B
; Mudcat 20940
; trad.]
Robert Ford: Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland
Jock Tamson’s Bairns sang Mallie Leigh in 1981 on their Iona album Fergusson’s Auld Reikie.
Archie Fisher sang Mally Lee in 1976 on his Topic album Will Ye Gang, Love, and he sang Mallie Leigh in 1986 on his Greentrax album with Garnet Rogers, Off the Map. He noted:
She was a renowned beauty of Edinburgh back in the 18th century, but she would have plenty of competition today.
Jean Redpath sang Mally Lee in 2000 on her Greentrax album Summer of My Dreams. She noted:
A traditional Edinburgh song which isn’t heard often enough. The words (and there are several more verses) are anonymous and dated variously circa 1737 and c.1760. The references are probably to Mally (S)leigh, who married Lord Lyon Brodie in 1725.
Jim and Susie Malcolm sang Melville Castle and Mally Lee on their 2017 album Spring Will Follow On. They noted:
Two great old songs with strong Edinburgh connections. A ‘capuchin’ is a hood and cloak.
Lyrics
Artie Fisher sings Mallie Leigh
When Mallie Leigh cam doon the street
Her capucine did flee
She coost alook behind her
For to see her negligie
Chorus:
For we’re all going East and West,
We’re a’ goin’ aye aglee
We’re a’ going East and West,
A-courting Mallie Leigh.
All up and doon the cannongate
Were beaux of ilk degree
And many’s the lad turned round
Tae look at bonnie Mallie Leigh
A countess o’er in Seaton’s lands
Looked from her window hie
And pined to see the slender waist
Of bonnie Mallie Leigh
And when she reached the palace porch
There stood earls three
And each ane thocht his Kate or Moll
Was a drab to Mallie Leigh
Though some had jewels in their hair
Like morning stars did shine
Young Mallie did surpass them all
With but her glittering een
A prince cam oot frae amang them all
Wi a garter at his knee
And danced a stately minuet
Wi bonnie Mallie Leigh
Jean Redpath sang Mally Lee
As Mally Lee cam’ doun the street
Her capuchin did flee
She cast a look behind her
To see her negligee
Chorus:
And we’re a’ gaun east and west
We’re a’ gaun ay ajee
We’re a’ gaun east and west
A-coortin’ Mally Lee
A’ doun along the Canongate
Were beaux o’ ilk degree
And mony ane turned round to look
At bonny Mally Lee
And when she reached the palace porch
There lounged nobles three
And ilk ane thought his Kate or Meg
A drab to Mally Lee
Fae Seton’s Land a countess fair
Looked ower a window hie
And pined to see the genty shape
O’ bonny Mally Lee
The lass gaed through the palace ha’
And nane sae braw as she
A prince speired leave tae dance wi’ her
And Earlies twa or three
The dance gaed through the Palace ha’
A comely sicht tae see
But nane was there sae bright and braw
As bonny Mally Lee
A prince cam’ out fae ’mang them a’
Wi’ garter at his knee
And danced a stately rig-a-doon
Wi’ bonny Mally Lee
But Hlelan’ Brodie fleered them a’
Wi’ prood an’ glancin’ e’e
He’s won for ay the hert an’ han’
O’ bonny Mally Lee
Jim and Sise Malcolm sing Mally Lee
When Mally Lee cam doon the street
Her capuchin did flee
She coost a look behind her
To see her negligee
Chorus:
And we’re a’ gaun east and west,
A’ gaun aye agee
We’re a’ gaun east and west,
A-coortin Mally Lee
From Seaton’s Land a countess fair
Looked ower a window hie
And pined to see the gently shape
Of bonny Mally Lee
And when she reached the palace porch
There lounged yerls three
And ilk ane thocht his Kate or Mag
A drab to Mally Lee
The dance gade through the palace hall
A comely sight to see
But nane was there sae bricht and braw
As bonny Mally Lee
But Hielan’ Brodie flaired them a’
Wi a prood and glancin’ ee
He’s won for aye the heart and hand
O’ bonny Mally Lee.