Home! Sweet Home! (Glasgow)/The Boatie Rows

by John Ewen

For other versions of this work, see The Boatie Rows.

THE BOATIE ROWS.

Weel may the boatie row,
And better may it speed,
Weel may the boatie row,
That wins the bairnies’ bread.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows fu' weel;
Meikle luck attend the boat,
The merlin and the creel.

⟨I⟩ cust my line in Largo bay,
And fishes I catch’d nine;
Twas three to boil, and three to fry,
And three to bait the line.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows indeed;
And happy be the lot of a’
That wish the boatie speed.

O weel may the boatie row,
That fills a heavy creel,
And cleads us a’ frae head to feet,
And buys our pottage meal.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows indeed;
And happy be the lot of a’
That wish the boatie speed.

When Jamie vow’d he would be mine,
And wan frae me my heart,
O muckle lighter grew my creel,
He swore we’d never part.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows fu’ weel,
And muckle lighter is the load,
When love bears up the creel.

My kurtch I put upon my head,
And dress’d mysel fu’ braw,
I true my heart was douf and wae,
When Jamie gaed awa.
But weel may the boatie row,
And lucky be her part;
And lightsome be the lassie’s care,
That yields an honest heart.

When Sandy, Jock, and Janetie,
Are up, and gotten lear,
They’ll help to gar the boatie row,
And lighten a’ our care,
The boatie rows, the boatie rows
The boatie rows fu’ weel,
And lightsome be her heart that bears
The merlin and the creel.

And when wi’ age we’re worn down,
And hirpling round the door,
They’ll row to keep us warm and dry,
As we did them before.
Then weel may the boatie row,
She wins the bairns’ bread;
And happy be the lot of a’
That wish the boat to speed.

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