I heard Janet Russell sing this song in concert, and she sang it a lot slower than Sheena Wellington. So, if there's a Russell recording available, it might be easier to decipher the words (although I don't know of one). In concert, Russell "translated" the accent. Here's what I remember of it:
Refrain:
The wailing of the bommer and the clacking of the looms
Brought the women of Dundee out of their beds.
And they walked to mills and factories,
And they worked from seven til five
And the women kept the bairns of Dundee fed.
Well now, I forget the first verse (sorry)...Something about there being no work for the men, "but a lassie's hands are nimble and a lassie's hands are small" so they went to the mills
My mother and my grannie and my aunties all,
When telling of the way (or why) they learned their skill.
They didn't work for freedom, independence or the rest.
They just worked to give some tiffin to their kin. (or kids, maybe)
You may talk of noble lineage and sing of your highland clan,
And hail some gallant chief who bears your name.
But my line's as good as any and I'm very proud to say,
It was from a Dundee weaver that I came.
Good luck,
Terry Colgan
HTML line breaks added --JoeClone, 27-Sep-01.