Bon-Accord Sangster/Welcome to the Festival
WELCOME TO THE FESTIVAL.
Tune—“Scots wha hae."
Friends, arrayed at Temp’rance’ call,
Foes to Drink’s degrading thrall,
Welcome to our Festival—
To all a gueed New Year.
Wha wad kirk or court reform?
Wha wad lay the social storm?
Let him crush the fiery worm
That stung the parted Year.
Stillers proud and Brewers bland,
Linked wi’ Tapsters’ balefu’ band,
Pour distruction o'er the land,
And blight the budding Year.
Tempters prowl in ilka place,
Luring youth to dire disgrace;
Bon-Accord, these blots efface,
And launch a purer Year.
What though Plenty crowned the plain,
When the love o’ sordid gain
Poison strained from tortured grain,
And spoiled the plenteous Year?
Drunkards, daised in filthy lair,
Drunkards’ wives, forfowden sair,
Drunkards’ bairns, misleared and bare,
Ne’er blessed the bounteous Year.
Youth, as Vet’rans fade away,
Round our flag your strength array;
Triumph soon will hail the day,
That heralds Freedom’s Year.
Patriots, liquor’s tide restrain,
Freemen, break the drunkard’s chain,
Light of Truth, on land an’ main,
Oh, beam a brighter Year.