The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111254 Message #2341000
Posted By: Tattie Bogle
15-May-08 - 05:36 AM
Thread Name: Tune Req: Fareweel, Edinburgh Lady Nairne
Subject: Tune Req: Fareweel, Edinburgh Lady Nairne
Does anyone know if there is a tune for this? From my own searching of Google and other sites (using Fareweel and Farewell), it seems it was written as a poem, but not sure if anyone has ever set it to music. Have posted the words below, so that there's no confusion as to which poem/song I'm talking about! Would appreciate any ideas.
Fareweel, Edinburgh Lady Nairne (Caroline Oliphant)
Fareweel, Edinburgh, where happy we hae been, Fareweel, Edinburgh, Caledonia's Queen! Auld Reekie, fare-ye-weel, and Reekie New beside, Ye're like a chieftain grim and grey, wi' a young bonny bride.
Fareweel, Edinburgh, and your trusty volunteers, Your Council a' sae circumspect, your Provost without peers, Your stately College stuff'd wi' lear, your rantin' High-Schule yard; The jib, the lick, the roguish trick, the ghaists o' auld toun-guard.
Fareweel, Edinburgh, your philosophic men; Your scribes that set you a' tae richts, and wield the golden pen; The Session-court, your thrang resort, bigwigs and lang gowns a'; And if ye dinna keep the peace, it's no for want of law.
Fareweel, Edinburgh, and a' your glittering wealth; Your Bernard's Well, your Calton Hill, where every breeze is health; An' spite o' a' your fresh sea-gales, should ony chance to dee, It's no for want o' recipe, the doctor, or the fee.
Fareweel, Edinburgh, your hospitals and ha's, The rich man's friend, the Cross lang ken'd, auld Ports, and city wa's; The Kirks that grace their honoured place, now peacefu' as they stand, Where'er they're found, on Scottish ground, the bulwarks of the land.
Fareweel, Edinburgh, your sons o' genius fine, That send your name on wings o' fame beyond the burnin' line; A name that's stood maist since the flood, and just when it's forgot, Your bard will be forgotten too, your ain Sir Walter Scott.
Fareweel Edinburgh, and a' your daughters fair; Your Palace in the sheltered glen, your Castle in the air; Your rocky brows, your grassy knowes, and eke your mountain bauld; Were I to tell your beauties a', my tale would ne'er be tauld.
Now, fareweel, Edinburgh, where happy we hae been; Fareweel, Edinburgh, Caledonia's Queen! Prosperity to Edinburgh wi' every risin' sun, And blessin's be on Edinburgh, till time his race has run!