Richard Thompson

Bogie's bonnie belle

Richard Thompson


s A cam in by Huntly Toun 
Ae mornin for tae fee 
A fell in wi Bogie o Cairnie 
An wi him A did agree 

For tae caa his twa best horses 
Or cairt or harrow or plou 
Or dae onything about fairm wark 
A very weil cud do 

Auld Bogie had a dochter 
Wha's name wis Isabelle 
She wis the lily o the valley 
An the primrose o the dell 

Whan she went out walkin 
She'd tak me for her guide 
Doun by the burn o Cairnie 
Tae watch smaa fishes glide 

Bit whan five lang months wis past an gane 
This lassie lost her blume 
The reid fell frae her rosie cheeks 
An her eyes began tae swoon 

An whan nine lang months wis past an gane 
She brocht forth tae me a son 
An A wis quickly caad for 
Tae see whit cud be done 

A said that A wad mairrie her 
Bit, och, that wadnae dae 
He said, "Ye're nae match for ma bonnie Belle 
An she's nae match for ye" 

Sae nou she's marriet tae a traiveller chiel 
Wha bides in Huntly Toun 
He sells pots an pans an paraffin lamps 
An he tramps the kintra roun 

An if she's gotten a better match 
Auld Bogie cannae tell 
Sae fare weil ye lauds o Huntlyside 
An Bogie's bonnie Belle