The Book of Scottish Song/O merry row
O merry row.
[The words chiefly written, and the music partly composed, by John Parry. The music is founded on an ancient Northumbrian melody.]
"O merry row! O merry row
The bonnie, bonnie bark:
Bring back my love to calm my woe,
Before the night grows dark!
My Donald wears a bonnet blue,
A bonnet blue, a bonnet blue,
A snow-white rose upon it too,
A Highland lad is he.
Then merry row, O merry row
The bonnie, bonnie bark!
O merry row! O merry, merry row,
And bring him safe to me!"
As on the pebbly beach I strayed,
Where rocks and shoals prevail,
I thus o'erheard a Lowland maid
Her absent love bewail.
A storm arose—the waves ran high—
The waves ran high—the waves ran high—
And dark and murky was the sky—
The wind did loudly roar.
But merry rowed, merry rowed
The bonnie, bonnie bark!
O merry rowed the bonnie, bonnie bark,
And brought her love on shore!