Robin Adair (Glasgow)/The Boatie Rows

by John Ewen

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

The Boatie Rows.

O weel may the boatie row,
 and better may she speed,
And liesome may the boatie row,
 that wins the bairns bread:
The boatie rows the boatie rows,
 the boatie rows fu' weel;
Muckle luck attends the boat,
 the murlain and the creel.

O weel may the boatie row
 that fills a heavy ereel,
And cleeds us a' frae tap to tae,
 and buys onr parritch meal.
The boatie rows the boatie rows,
 the boatie rows indeed;
And happy be the lot of a'
 that wish the boatie speed.

And when we're aged and sair bow'd
 and hirpling at the door,
Our bairns will row to keep us warm,
 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 boatie speed.