Traditional Scottish Songs
- Land O The Leal
The melody for this song is an old air, "Hey, tuttie, tattie" which was also used by Robert Burns for "Scots Wha' Hae'". Lady Nairne wrote the words on the death of the only child of her friend, Mrs. Archibald Campbell Colquhoun (who had been a love of Sir Walter Scott at one time).
Land O The Leal
I'm wearin' awa' Jean,
Like snaw-wreaths in thaw, Jean,
I'm wearin' awa'
To the land o' the leal.
There's nae sorrow there, Jean
There's neither cauld nor care, Jean,
The day's aye fair
In the land o' the leal.To me ye hae been true Jean,
Your task's ended noo, Jean
For near kythes my view
O' the land o' the leal.
Our bonnie bairn's there, Jean,
She was baith gude and fair, Jean,
And, oh! we grud'd her sair
To the land o' the leal.But dry that tearfu' ee Jean,
Grieve na for her and me, Jean
Frae sin and sorrow free
I' the land o' the leal.
Now fare ye weel, may ain Jean!
This warld's cares are vain, Jean,
We'll meet and aye be fein
I' the land o' the leal.Meaning of unusual words:
awa' = away
leal = loyal, faithfull
aye = always
kythes = reveal, declare
bairn = child
baith = both
grud'd = grudged
sair = all one's strength, greatly
fein = loving, affectionate
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