THE BONNIE LASS O FYVIE

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There are more versions of this song than you can throw a stick at. This is mine; I think I've got all the right verses, but doubtless have them in the wrong order. Another Buchan (Fraserburgh area) based song.

The Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie

There once was a troop of Irish Dragoons
Come marching doon through Fyvie-o
And the Captain's faun in love 
wi' a bonnie, bonnie lass
Her name, it is called pretty Peggy-o

Oh come doon the stair, pretty Peggy, my dear
Come doon the stair, pretty Peggy-o
Oh come doon the stair, 
let loose your yellow hair
Take the last fareweel o' your daddie-o

It's I will give you ribbons,it's I will buy you rings
And I'll buy you the beads o' the amber-o
I'll buy you silken gowns 
to clad you up and down
And I'll follow you into your chamber-o

Little would my mammie think, 
for to hear the guineas chink
And the band playing on before me-o
Little would my mammie think, 
for to hear the guineaschink
And her daughter to marry a soldier-o

I never did intend a soldier's lady for to be
I never will marry a soldier-o
I never did intend 
tae gang tae a foreign land
And I will never will marry a soldier-o

A lowly soldier's lady, ye shall never be
For I'll mak you the Captain's lady-o
The regiment will stand, 
wi their hats into their hands
When they come into the presence o' Peggy-o

It's braw, oh it's braw, a Captain's lady for to be
It's braw to be a Captain's lady-o
To be in your bed 
till breakfast is made
And dress till dinner be ready-o

The Colonel, he stands on a step o' yonder stair
Cries mount boys, mount and get ready-o
Oh tarry for a while, 
another day of twa
Till we see if this bonnie lass will marry-o

Then up it and spoke, his bold brother John
And o' but he was angry-o
If she winna come wi you, 
I'm sure that she will rue
The day that she stayed here in Fyvie-o

There's mony's a bonny lass in the howe o' Auchterless
There's mony's a bonny maid in the Gairy-o
There's mony's the bonny Jean 
in the toon o' Aberdeen
But the floor o' them a' lies in Fyvie-o

Lang ere they come to auld Meldrum toon
Their Captain they had for to carry-o
And lang ere they come 
to bonnie Aberdeen
Their Captain they had for to bury-o

Green grow the birks on bonny Ythan side
And low lie the lowlands o' Fyvie-o
Their Captain's name was Ned, 
and he died for a maid
He died for the bonnie lass o' Fyvie-o

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Music; traditional. Content copyright © 2000 held by the author; Ian Hall.