Cairn o' Mount

based on a poem by Alexander Balfour (1767 - 1829)
adapted to music by Tony Cuffe (1954 - 2001)
inspired by North Sea Gas' version

   4 bar intro:
   G C|G C|G C|G C|
   
   I left the banks o winding Dee and haughs o bonny green
   C          G       D       G       C        D     G
   Where birds sang blithe on ilka tree and flooers bloomed fair atween
   C           C    G         D    G        Am                   D
   As I gaed in by Brig o' Dye just as the sun gaed doun
   C         G/B   Am          G           C        D
   A lassie sang sae merrily amang the heather broun
   C        G/B      Am      G         Am      D

   CHORUS:
           C        G        Am        G        C       D
   "Though Cairn o' Mount is bleak and bare and cold is Clochnaben
       C           G         Am         G       C   D   |: G  Am  C  D :|
   I'd rather meet my Donald there than be fair Scotland's queen."
   
   (4 bar tag)

   I jumpit off my dapple grey, and stepped doun by her side,
   Said, "Lassie I ha lost my way amang the muirs sae wide
   Leeze me on yer bonny face, yer een sae bonny blue
   The langest day I'd blithely spare tae be alane wi you."
   CHORUS
   
   (4 bar tag)

   "Bonnie lassie gang wi' me and leave this cauldrife glen
   O' a' yir kin ye'll hae degree, wi wealth, baith butt and ben
   In silks and satins, buskets braw, and ribbons for yir hair
   Maids tae answer when ye ca', how could ye wish for mair?"
   CHORUS
   
   (4 bar tag)
   
   "O bonny lassie think a wee, my lands stretch far and wide
   I hae gowd in banks, and ships at sea, sae wilt thou be my bride?
   My faither's left me lairdships twa, a hoose at my command
   I'll mak you lady o' them a' if ye'll gie me yer hand."
   CHORUS
   
   (2 bar tag)
   (The Bonniest Lass in the World, 1x through)
   (4 bar tag)
   
   I flung aside my Lowland coat, camb doun my yella hair
   Cried "Leeze me on thee bonny Bess, we meet tae pairt nae mair
   (2 bars guitar)
   Nae langer Donald o the Glen, I'm laird ayont the Dee
   The hairt that proved thee for its ain will aye prove true to thee."
   CHORUS
   CHORUS
   

English translation:
I left the banks of winding Dee and the meadows of beautiful green
Where birds sang happily on every tree, and flowers bloomed fair between
As I went in by the bridge of Dee, just as the sun went down
A maiden sang so merrily among the heather brown:

CHORUS (sung by the maiden)
"Though Cairn O' Mount is bleak and bare, and cold is Clochnaben
I'd rather meet my Donald there than be fair Scotland's queen"

I jumped off my dapple-grey (horse), and stepped down by her side
Saying, "Lassie I have lost my way, among the moors so wide
It pleases me to look on your pretty face, your eyes so lovely blue
The longest day I'd gladly spend to be alone with you"
CHORUS

"Lovely lady, go with me and leave this chilly valley
Oh, all you kin will have noble rank, with wealth inside and out
In silks and satins, garments fine, and ribbons for your hair
Maids to answer when you call, how could you wish for more?"
CHORUS

"Lovely lady, think a bit, my lands stretch far and wide
I have gold in banks, and ships at sea, so will you be my bride
My father's left me lordships two, a house at my command
I'll make you lady of them all, if you'll give to me your hand"
CHORUS

I flung aside my lowland coat, combed down my yellow hair
It pleases me to see you, lovely Bess, we meet to part no more
No longer Donald of the valley, I'm lord beyond the (river) Dee
The heart that proved thee for its own, may it prove true to thee"
CHORUS