A Sang Frae Moneyrea
Author: Robert Huddleston
Date: 1993
Source: Ullans: The Magazine for Ulster-Scots: Nummer 1 Spring 1993
(Unto yon Gowany Glen I’m gaun)
The following song in two parts was written by Robert Huddleston about 1870. He set both parts to a familiar tune he knew as Let me in this ae night. This was an old Scottish tune previously called Will ye lend me your loom lass until it had been used by Burns to set his song Let me in this ae night. The chorus of Burns’ song is similar to Huddleston’s:
O let me in this ae night
This ae, ae, ae night
For pity’s sake this ae night
O rise and let me in, jo.
Indeed, Burns’ song was also written in two parts, with his second part called ‘Her Answer’ in the same way as Huddleston’s.
Unto yon Gowany glen I’m gaun
O lassie wilt thou come alang —
And hear the blackbird’s bonnie sang
As blythe he’s on yon tree, O.
Chorus:
O wilt thou go wi me lass
Wi me, me, me lass —
O dinna cruel be lass
but come your wa’s wi me, O
The golden god of sultry day
Lang syne to woo has gane away
And Thetis to his wish obey
Yet I maun prig wi’ thee O.
Chorus: O wilt thou, etc
Yon’s Luna, mark! I see her ray
Now rising ower yon distant brae
How sweet beneath her beams to stray
In love and unity O.
Chorus: O wilt thou, etc
Fu’ weel ye ken thy coaxin’ smiles
Thy witchin’ gait and maiden wiles
Have caused me oft to travel miles
And stole my heart frae me O.
Chorus: O wilt thou, etc
To traitor prove I ha’ent the heart
I prize too high thy virgin part
To trust me you might in the mirk
Tho’ dark as dark could be O.
Chorus; O wilt thou, etc
HER ANSWER
O fleetch me nae wi’ flatterin’ tongue
The eve’s far spent and I’m but young
I winna gang, I canna won
To cease your fun wi’ me O.
Chorus:
O I’ll no gae wi’ thee lad
Wi’ thee, thee, thee lad
O ance for a’ my slee lad
Ken I’ll no gae wi’ thee O.
Wi’ thee I winna gang my lane
Wi’ thee decline the lonesome plain
The murky trip might be my shame
And to’t I’ll no agree O
Chorus: O I’ll no gae, etc
O treacherous is the heart o’ man
And wad I chance we thee to gang
Sure we might dae things that was rang
As rang as rang could be O
Chorus: O I’ll no gae, etc
O quiss me not about the moon
Before you say she’s chaste aboon
Let first poor, silly woman soun’
How aft she’s led astray O
Chorus: O I’ll no gae, etc
The thrush that’s breedin in the scrogg
Knows not when she’s the weesle’s prog
Nor does the hare know when the dog
May cruely on her prey O.
Chorus: O I’ll no gae, etc
Glossary
gowany — daisy covered
lang syne — long ago, long since
maun — must
prig — haggle, plead
fleetch — coax, flatter, entreat
won — stay, abide
slee — clever
my lane — by myself
rang — wrong
quiss — quiz
aboon — above
scrogg — stunted bush, undergrowth
prog — plundered goods
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Contents: Ullans: The Magazine for Ulster-Scots: Nummer 1 Spring 1993
