Six popular Scotch songs/The Braes O' Gleniffer
SONGS.
THE BRAES O’ GLENIFFER.
Keen blaws the wind o'er the braes o' Gleniffer,
The auld castle's turrets are covered wi' snaw—
How chang'd frae the time when I met wi’ my lover,
Amang the broom bushes by Stanley green shaw!
The wild flowers o’ summer were spread a' sae bonnie,
The mavis sang sweet frae the green birken tree;
But far to the camp they ha'e marched my dear Johnnie,
And now it is winter wi' nature and me.
Then ilk thing around us was blythesome and cheerie—
Then ilk thing around us was bonnie and braw;
Now naething is heard but the wind whistling dreary,
And naething is seen but the wide spreading snaw.
The trees are a’ bare, and the birds mute and dowie,
They shake the cauld drift frae their wings as they flee,
And chirp out their plaints, seeming wae for my Johnnie—
'Tis winter wi’ them, and 'tis winter wi' me.
Yon cauld sleety cloud skiffs alang the bleak mountain,
And shakes the dark firs on the steep rocky brae,
While down the deep glen bawls the snaw-flooded fountain,
That murmured sae sweet to my laddie and me.
’Tis no its loud roar on the wintry wind swelling,
'Tis no the cauld blast brings the tears i’ my e’e—
For, O! gin I saw but my bonnie Scots callan,
The dark days o' winter were summer to me.