A bit belated but having just found it myself I'll post it, with the translations

Shining clear - A Mile and a Bittock
Here is a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson which describes with humour and accuracy, the return of three friends from "having a wee refreshment"

Chorus (Dougie Pincock of Battlefield Band - also the tune)
It's oot the barn and o'er the hill,
Through the dark, and there's the still,
A cup in yer hand an' drink yer fill,
And the moon was shinin'...clear.

Verses RLS

A mile an' a bittock, a mile or twa,
Abune the burn, ayont the law,
Davie an' Donal' an' Cherlie an' a',
An' the mune was shinin' clearly!

Ane went hame wi' the ither, an' then
The ither went hame wi' the ither twa men,
An' baith wad return him the service again,
An' the mune was shinin' clearly!

The clocks were chappin' in house an' ha',
Eleeven, twal' an' ane an' twa;
An' the guidman's face was turnt to the wa',
An' the mune was shinin' clearly!

Noo, Davie was first to get sleep in his head,
'The best o' frien's maun twine,' he said;
'I'm weariet, an' here I'm awa' to my bed,'
An' the mune was shinin' clearly!

Twa o' them walkin' an' crackin' their lane,
The mornin' licht cam grey an' plain,
An' the birds they yammert on stick an' stane,
An the mune was shinin' clearly!

O years ayont, O years awa',
My lads, ye'll mind whateter befa' -
My lads, ye'll mind on the beild o' the law,
When the mune was shinin' clearly.

Scottish Poetry Selection
Meaning of unusual words:
bittock=a little bit
abune=above
ayont=beyond
law=hill
chappin'=striking
guidman=husband
twine=separate
weariet=tired
crackin'=gossiping
there lane=alone
yammert=clamoured
ayont=beyond
beild=shelter
Return to the Index of Scottish Poetry Selection