Lyrics for "Recipe for Life"

As promised, here is a transcription of the lyrics.
There may be one or two small errors as some of the words aren't too clear. However, it still makes sense......


In Drumnadrochit Village seated in the village square,
Come Hail, rain, or sunshine, you'll find the old men there.
While sharing with the tourists, they'll close their eyes and tell
Of the great tales of their childhood and their parents where they dwell.

They dwell, oh they dwell, oh they dwell me lads they dwell.
Oh, great tales of their childhood and their parents where they dwell.

The first old lad said "Since I was born some ninety years have gone".
"Oh tell me," said the tourist "Why have you lived so long?"
"I've never smoked nor drank, Sir, Whisky I have spurned,
You live to be a hundred when the simple things you learn."

"You learn, Aye You learn, You learn, me lads, you learn. You live to be a hundred once the simple things you learn."


Another nice old fellow just further up the bench
"In all of 97 years, I've never kissed a wench.
Alcohol has never passed my lips or smoke into me lungs
It's a recipe for long life and a way of staying young.

So young, so young, so young me lads, so young.
My recipe for long life and a way of staying young"

The third old man just cackled and shook a wizened head
"I never could remember how many maids I've had in bed
My glass is never empty and my pipe is always lit
That proves his recipe for life is just a load of shit.

Instrumental break

The tourist showed admiration and said he was impressed
"Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Sir, it's your way that's the best.
But tell me just how long that you've lived in this way?"

"Well, I've lived man and boy, Sir, 23 years to the day."

The day, the day, the day me lads, the day. Well, I've lived man and boy, Sir, 23 years to the day.."

There is a more toned-down verse from the third old man which was sung on the radio programme, as I said. As I recall, it goes something like this..

The third old man just laughed. He shook his head and gloated
"In all my years I can't recall how many girls I've courted
My glass is never empty and I enjoy a smoke
That proves his recipe for life is nothing but a joke..."

"A joke, a joke, a joke me lads a joke. That proves his recipe for life is nothing but a joke..."


So, you can sing whichever verse you like. According to taste and/or the company.... ;-)))