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The Braes of Galloway

[ Roud V53337 ; William Nicholson (1782-1849), ‘the bard of Galloway’]

Jo Miller and Robyn Stapelton sang The Braes of Galloway on Jo’s 2023 album A’ the Way to Galloway. She noted:

[William] Nicholson specifies the tune as the The White Cockade and I have used a version from the Gatehouse fiddler’s notebook of the period. The tune A’ the way to Gallowa which ends this track is a traditional reel, also known as We’ll All Away to Galloway and All the way to Galway.

Lyrics

Jo Miller and Robyn Stapleton sing The Braes of Galloway

O lassie wilt thou gang wi me
And leave thy freens i the south countrie
Thy former freens and sweethearts a’
And gang wi me to Gallowa?

O Gallowa braes they wave wi broom
And heather-bells in bonnie bloom
There’s lordly seats and livins braw
Among the braes o Gallowa.

There’s stately woods on mony a brae
Where burns and birds in concert play
The waukrife echo answers a’
Among the braes o Gallowa.

The simmer shiel I’ll build for thee
Along the bonnie banks o Dee,
Half circlin roun my faither’s ha
Among the braes o Gallowa.

When autumn waves her flowin horn
And fields o gowden grain are shorn
I’ll busk thee in fine pearlins braw
To join the dance in Gallowa.

At e’en when darkness shrouds the sicht
And lonely langsome is the nicht
Wi tentie care my pipes I’ll thraw
Play A’ the way to Gallowa.

Should fickle fortune on us frown
Nae lack o gear our love should drown
Content should shield our haddin sma
Among the braes o Gallowa.

Come while the blossom’s on the broom
And heather-bells sae bonnie bloom
Come let us be the happiest twa
On a’ the braes o Gallowa.