Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From: Effsee
Date: 11 Sep 17 - 08:12 AM

None of the Corries were brothers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Sep 17 - 05:28 AM

I'll bet you're right, Jim. All them brother groups start sounding the same after a while: Makem, Clancy, Corries, Smothers....

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BONNIE BLUE (The Corries)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Sep 17 - 08:44 AM

I think this may be the song that minstrel53 originally wanted, although I can't find any evidence that the Makem brothers recorded it. I found several versions online but they all seemed to contain errors; I corrected them to the best of my ability based on my hearing of the recording, but I might have missed some. Further corrections are welcome.


THE BONNIE BLUE
As recorded by The Corries on "The Bonnie Blue" (2009)

1. Blarin' trumpets sounded far.
Horseman rade well graithed tae war.
The English come up frae Dunbar
Upon the misty mornin',
Prince Chairlie wi' the Hieland host
Lay westward on the Lothian coast.
Johnnie bragged wi' many's the boast
He'd roast [or "roust"?] them ere next mornin'.

CHORUS: Run, run, ye ganglin' crew!
This mornin's work ye lang will rue.
The bonnie blue bonnets are after you,
Tae wish ye's a' guid mornin.

2. Lang ere the cock proclaimed it day,
The Prince's men stood in array.
Though impatient for the fray,
Bent low the knee that mornin'.
When "row dow dow" rolled the English drum,
The Hieland bagpipe gaed a "bum"
And told the mountain clans had come,
Grim death and danger scornin'. CHORUS

3. Ilk hand was firm; ilk heart was true.
A shot and doon their guns they threw,
Forth their dreaded claymores drew
Upon that fearful mornin'.
The English raised a loud "Huzzah!"
But daurnae bide the brunt ava'.
They wavered, turned, sine ran awa'
Like sheep at shepherds' warnin'. CHORUS

4. Whit sad mishap that few befell,
When faint had grown the battle's yell!
Still Gardiner fought, and fighting, fell
Upon that fatal mornin'.
Nae braggart but a sodjer, he
Wad scorn wi' coward loons tae flee,
And fell aneath the auld thorn tree,
Upon that fearsome mornin'. CHORUS

5. Fast, fast, their foot and horsemen flew.
Caps were mixed wi' bonnie blue.
Dirks were wet, but no wi' dew,
Upon that fatal mornin'.
Few stayed save ae devoted band
Tae bide the brunt o' Hieland brand,
That swept aroond, lopped head and hand
Upon that fatal mornin'. CHORUS

6. To boast our deeds becomes us ill,
Yet Scotland has her border still,
Be there some who'd have their will,
For want o' thought or learnin'.
The Roman legions tried in vain.
The Saxon, Dane, and Norseman came.
Nane o' them could us contain,
So heed this gentle warnin'. CHORUS

LAST CHORUS: Run, run, ye ganglin' crew.
The bonnie blue bonnets are after you,
But all we really want to do
Is wish ye's a' guid mornin'!

Subject: Lyr Add: MARCH, MARCH, ETTRICK AND TEVIOTDALE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Sep 17 - 03:30 PM

This is the song that Lesley N. posted above. I have boldfaced a few differences. Note there is no designated chorus, and "Border Ballad" is the only title given.

From The Poetry Contained in the Novels, Tales, and Romances of the Author of Waverley [by Sir Walter Scott] (Edinburgh: Archibald Constable & Co., 1822), page 226:

BORDER BALLAD.

1.
March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,
Why the deil dinna ye march forward in order?
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
All the Blue Bonnets are bound for the Border.
Many a banner spread,
Flutters above your head,
Many a crest that is famous in story.
Mount and make ready then,
Sons of the mountain glen,
Fight for the Queen and our old Scottish glory.

2.
Come from the hills where your hirsels are grazing,
Come from the glen of the buck and the roe;
Come to the crag where the beacon is blazing,
Come with the buckler, the lance, and the bow.
Trumpets are sounding,
War-steeds are bounding,
Stand to your arms, and march in good order,
England shall many a day
Tell of the bloody fray,
When the Blue Bonnets came over the Border.

The musical notation can be found in The Songs of Scotland: Adapted to Their Appropriate Melodies, Volume 3 edited by George Farquhar Graham (Edinburgh: Wood and Co., 1849), page 54, where the title is given as MARCH, MARCH, ETTRICK AND TEVIOTDALE. In that version "why the deil" is changed to "why, my lads"; "bound for" is changed to "over" but "Queen" and "glory" are as the original.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From: Bert
Date: 13 Aug 99 - 11:11 AM

I had a home out in Texas
Out where the Blue Bonnets grew......

Bert. (couldn't resist that one - sorry)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From:
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 03:49 PM

The song above is by Sir Walter Scott, from The Monastery, 1820. Song and tune are in Graham's/ Wood's Songs of Scotland, vol. 3.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 12 Aug 99 - 12:33 AM

No, checked at Volksleider, it has Bonnets of Blue, which has two versions in the DT. Regards, John

Subject: Lyr Add: BLUE BONNETS OVER THE BORDER
From: Lesley N.
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 11:07 PM

It's not bonnie but it's the only blue bonnets I know - blue bonnets over the border

Chorus:
March! March! Ettrick and Tevot-dale,
Why my lads dinnaye march forward in order
March! March! Eskdale and Liddesdale!
All the blue bonnets are over the border

Many a banner spread,
Flutters above your head,
Many a crest that is famous in story,
Mount and make ready then,
Sons of the mountain glen,
Fight for your King and the old Scottish border.

Chorus

Come from the hills where your hirsels are grazing,
Come from the glens of the buck and the roe;
Come to the grag where the beacon is blazing
Come with the buckler, the lance, and the bow

Trumpets are sounding,
War steeds are bounding.
Stand to your arms and march on good order
England shall many a day,
Tell of the bloody fray,
When the blue bonnets came over the border

Chorus

(from a broadside circa 1820/1830)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 10:36 PM

I would swear that I've seen this somewhere on the Web. Is it in the Volkslieder site which is in the Forum Links? Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From:
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 02:36 AM

How about giving a line or two of the song? Someone may know it under a different title. If it's really a traditional song it's likely to have other titles.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From: John Osh
Date: 11 Aug 99 - 12:51 AM

I have often looked for this song also in the past w/ no success. There is a Makem Brothers and Tommy Makem website. I always thought to e-mail them from there w/ a request, but sad to say I never followed up. And if you get a chance to see them in concert, do so. They are very good.

Sorry I am not more help, but just put "Makem Brothers" in Yahoo! search and the site will come up.

John OSh

Subject: Bonnie Blue Bonnets
From: minstrel53
Date: 10 Aug 99 - 08:19 PM

This is a traditional Scots Ballad, recorded by the Makem Brothers recently. I m looking for the lyrics is anyone knows where to locate please advise.

Keep the notes coming ,

The Minstrel