Lyr Add: Fisher's Brae

Subject: Lyr Add: Fisher's Brae
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Apr 21 - 09:54 AM

Here is the song I sang during the Mudcat Zoom singaround last Monday: Lyrics by a friend of mine, Glenn Muir, tune by me. Originally it had just 3 verses, but another songwriter friend suggested that Glenn might add a winter verse, as well as the changing description of the Ochils in the choruses. As I said on the night, it's the only song that I know that gets romantic about Grangemouth, where there is a big oil depot on the River Forth - it does look quite spectacular when lit up at night however!
Fisher's Brae is a nice walk between Linlithgow Bridge and Bo'ness in West Lothian, Scotland: as Glenn says - a favourite place for "winching" (courting/going out with): see map which shows the places mentioned in the chorus. Fisher's Brae



FISHER'S BRAE        Lyrics: ?Glenn Muir   Melody: ?Trish Santer
                                                
1. When (C)springtime cam to (F)Fisher's (C) Brae                         
And the (C) yorlin sang sae (G)sweet,         
We'd (C) walk thegither (F) airm in (C) airm        
(C) Up past Jock (G) Mason's (C) seat.

Chorus                                 
By (F) Balderston and (C) Muirhouse,                  
(G7)Onwards past Bo'(C)mains,
Tae (F) view the dew-clad (C) Ochils          (v2 shady v3 brooding v4 shrouded)
And (C) Grangemouth's (G) smoky (C) flames.

2. In summer, we'd climb up Fisher's Brae,
It's the time we lo'ed the best,
We'd listen there for the hoolet's cry
As the sun sank in the West.
Chorus

3. A whaup's wheep on the Autumn wind
Noo haunts the Fisher's Brae,
And I weary for the dark-haired lad (lass)
Wi' whom I used tae stray.
Chorus

4. The silent winter snows will come
When nane tread Fisher's Brae,
A blanket deep, where sorrows sleep
'Neath a sky sae dark and grey.
Chorus

Glossary:
Yorlin Yellowhammer
Hoolet Owl
Whaup   Curlew
wheep High-pitched whistle or cry