The Smuggler
The Smuggler
Lyrics and music traditional
Performed by The Jolly Rogers on Loose Cannons
The boat rides south o' Ailsa Craig in the waning o' the light
There's thirty men in Lendalfoot tae mak oor burden light
And there's thirty horse in Hazelholm wi' the halters on their heids
All set this night upon yon height if wind and water speed
Smugglers drink on the Frenchman's wine
And the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we run from the excise man
It's the smugglers life for me, it's the smugglers life for me
Oh lass, ye ha'e a cosy bed and cattle ye ha'e ten
Can ye no' live a lawful life and live wi' lawful men
But must I use such hamely good when there's foreign gear sae fine?
Must I drink at the waterside when France is full of wine?
Oh would I like to see ye Kate, wi' the bairnie on thy knee
But my heart is now wi' the gallant crew who calls to the angry sea
The bitter gale, the tightest sail, wi' the sheltered bay our goal
It's the wayward life, it's the smugglers strife, it's the joy all smugglers know
And when, at last, the sun comes up and the cargo safely stored
Like sinless saints, to church we'll go. God's mercy to afford
And there's champagne fine for communion wine.
And the parson drinks it too
With a smile he prays, forgive these men for they know not what they do
Background from Daniel Womack: In doing some background research on this song I only came to two names: Bruce Davies and Ian McCalman. I have written to Bruce (a really kind man I must say) and he says he first heard the song sung by The McCalmans who credit it as Traditional, arr. McCalman, Moffat & Bayne. So while it has been thought for some time that Ian McCalman himself wrote the song it just seems that it's their recording that is the earliest one available. I will continue to search for anything older so as I might give the original author his or her proper credit. For now, it remains a mystery.
If you have some information that could be of help or if there is a song you've heard on the podcast that you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to contact me at lyrics@renaissancefestivalmusic.com.
Lyrics and music traditional
Performed by The Jolly Rogers on Loose Cannons
The boat rides south o' Ailsa Craig in the waning o' the light
There's thirty men in Lendalfoot tae mak oor burden light
And there's thirty horse in Hazelholm wi' the halters on their heids
All set this night upon yon height if wind and water speed
Smugglers drink on the Frenchman's wine
And the darkest night is the smugglers time
Away we run from the excise man
It's the smugglers life for me, it's the smugglers life for me
Oh lass, ye ha'e a cosy bed and cattle ye ha'e ten
Can ye no' live a lawful life and live wi' lawful men
But must I use such hamely good when there's foreign gear sae fine?
Must I drink at the waterside when France is full of wine?
Oh would I like to see ye Kate, wi' the bairnie on thy knee
But my heart is now wi' the gallant crew who calls to the angry sea
The bitter gale, the tightest sail, wi' the sheltered bay our goal
It's the wayward life, it's the smugglers strife, it's the joy all smugglers know
And when, at last, the sun comes up and the cargo safely stored
Like sinless saints, to church we'll go. God's mercy to afford
And there's champagne fine for communion wine.
And the parson drinks it too
With a smile he prays, forgive these men for they know not what they do
Background from Daniel Womack: In doing some background research on this song I only came to two names: Bruce Davies and Ian McCalman. I have written to Bruce (a really kind man I must say) and he says he first heard the song sung by The McCalmans who credit it as Traditional, arr. McCalman, Moffat & Bayne. So while it has been thought for some time that Ian McCalman himself wrote the song it just seems that it's their recording that is the earliest one available. I will continue to search for anything older so as I might give the original author his or her proper credit. For now, it remains a mystery.
If you have some information that could be of help or if there is a song you've heard on the podcast that you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to contact me at lyrics@renaissancefestivalmusic.com.
--posted by Daniel Womack of the Brobdingnagian Bards
12:21 PM
