Lyr Req: My Bonnie Lassie of the Morning

Subject: RE: 'My Aine Dear Bonny Lassie O' the Mornin'
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 04:46 PM

Oh, I think there are longer waits sometimes!  The song-text page wouldn't display in Netscape, but IE found it; the site uses cascading style sheets so I suspect some JavaScript issue or other.

Subject: RE:
From: Stewart
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 04:26 PM

Malcolm,

Thanks for the information. I couldn't get the Tradition Bearers full text of the song (page not found). Paddy never claimed this to be trad, he just sang it without any particular introduction. But it's good to know the author now. I did hear the sound sample of Bob Blair, and it's the same tune as Paddy sang.

I emailed the text to Dreamsinger (above). She has been patiently waiting for almost four years now! Does this set a record as the slowest response?

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE:
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 03:37 PM

This is not a traditional song; it was written quite recently by Jack Foley, a Glasgow journalist and for some years editor of The Folksong Broadsheet.  The full text (which is still very much in copyright) can be seen at the  Tradition Bearers  website.  There is a sound sample of Bob Blair singing it there, too, but at present connections are poor and I can't get it to play, so I can't tell you whether or not Paddy Graber has changed the tune; he has only slightly altered Foley's text, and can only have learned it in recent years.

Subject: Lyr Add: MY BONNIE LASSIE OF THE MORNING
From: Stewart
Date: 12 Feb 02 - 02:38 PM

For a long unanswered request! I just transcribed this song from a tape of my friend Paddy Graber. It's an Irish version, probably from his family. It's a beautiful song. Here's the tune. BTW, can anyone tell me the source (name?) of this tune?
My Bonnie Lassie of the Morning
Trad. Irish, as sung by Paddy Graber

Upon the daybreak sun was always brighter than the 'een
It lit the sky, it warmed the earth, the craigs, the vales between
But it's faded to a glimmer with the brightest sight I've seen
'Twas m'own dear bonnie lassie of the morning.

Oh, the sparkle of her laughter ever after I'll recall
Like the tinkling, bubbling mountain streamers trickle as they fall
But now the hills are empty, my bonnie lassie's gone awa'
M'own dear bonnie lassie of the morning.

The mountain air grew cooler as for miles we both tramped on
Seeking tracks that sheep had made until our paths were gone
Our step was light and airy and upon our lips a song
M'own dear bonnie lassie of the morning.

Up through the clouds unto the sun we scrambled high above
Whilst eagles wheeled below us looking gentle as a dove
The mountain peaks above us gave their blessing to our love
To me and my bonnie lassie of the morning.

Then in a nest of heather we lay happy on the hill
We laughed and played as children might and sang with right good will
But we both knew we had tasted joy that none could share nor fill
As me and my bonnie lassie of the morning.

We tried to build a dam across a stream to stop its race
But we might as well have tried to keep the wild deer in one place
For I saw the look of parting come that soon would cloud the face
Of m'own dear bonnie lassie of the morning.

Wearily we both arose, the misty trail to find
Tripping, gripping, slipping, knowing what we left behind
But as we moved on downward, grateful thoughts they filled my mind
So grateful for my lassie of the morning.

Then in the dusk we lingered trying hard to find a way
To take that long farewell and say the words we had to say
Then a tender look, a kiss, a touch, we turned and walked away
And I knew there'd never be another morning.


Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: Lyrics wanted
From: Dreamsinger
Date: 13 Jul 98 - 04:30 PM

I'm looking for the rest of the lyrics to this song by Archie Fisher. "I used to think the summer sun was brightest of the year, As it rose the glen and warmed the earth and nestled everywhere, But it faded to a glimmer by the brighter sight I've seen, My aine, dear, bonny Lassie O the Mornin'

And the sparkle of her laughter, ever after I'll recall, Like the linkin', jinklin', trinklin' as the mountain waters fall, But now the hills are empty, for my Lassie she's awa', My aine, dear, bonny Lassie O' the Mornin' "------ Archie Fisher Muis Dreamsinger [e-mail]