When I was young, and youth did Bloom, where fancy snar'd me I did rove; From top to town, the nation round, thro' many a silent shady grove: At last I came to Scotland by name, which was adorn'd on every Side, With cities rare, but Glasgow fair, is the beauty of all on the banks of Clyde.
At first when I this city drew nigh, it was into the month of May, When all about this beautiful town, the fields were clad with flowr's so gay, The music-bells through woods and fells, do echo out on very side, Such melody can no where be, like this on the banks of the river Clyde.
As I drew near, the girls did appear, such beauties as I ne'er had seen, The virgins fair, with modest air, pass up and down so neat and clean The people here so kind they were, made me resolve here to abide, For ever here I wish to live, in Glasgow on the Banks of Clyde.
But when I came into the Cross, such buildings I to you declare, For beauty never yet was seen, in number all at once was there; From east to west, I do protest, from south to north on every side, The streets do lie with buildings high, in Glasgow on the Banks of Clyde.
Likewise, which beautifies the town, the goal is like a palace fair, And just below a fine exchange, where merchants they do all repair Where curiously, well mounted high, King William does on horseback ride. All which does greatly beautify, this city on the Banks of Clyde.
The music-bells delightfully, repeat each quarter thro' the day, When all's asleep with music sweet, they chime the silent night away; Those music-bells through woods and fells, do echo out on every side. Such melody can no where be, like those on the banks of the river Clyde.
The streets they are so beautiful, they cross each other curiously, And all along on every side each building's like a palace high; The churches rare, they are so fair, all beautiful on every side, Their steeples are so brisk and tall, shine far frae the Banks of the river Clyde
The coat of arms denotes their charms, both from the air, the land, the sea, Bell, fish, and ring, and a bird to sing, full sweet on the top of an oaken tree; All those you'll find most neatly join'd well beautified on every side, With motto round 'Let Glasgow town, 'still flourish on the Banks of Clyde.'
This charming town, with water clear as crystal all along the streets, Is well supply'd with fine machines, which draw't from below your feet. Likewise fine gardens all around, with pleasant walks on every side, Mine bleach-fields, which pleasure yields, to Glasgow on the Banks of Clyde.
Here's pleasure too, a river thro' this city runs, although but small, Where orderly twelve bridges high, and those in half a mile stand all: All those, each one with curious stone, are built with arches high and wide; Six miles also this stream does go for Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.
Likewise by right for more delight, they have a large and spacious green, Adorn'd with planting all around, divided by a pleasant stream: Into the green there's to be seen, building fair both large and wide, For washing clear through all the year, for Glasgow on the Banks of Clyde.
Below this town two bridges stand thro' which the water clear doth fa', From whence you have the pleasant view of the harbour at the Broomielaw, Where sailors they both night and day, come sailing up with every tide, Their landing be upon the quay, at Glasgow on the Banks of Clyde.
One thing abounds in this beautiful town, remains untold, the which I will, Of their virtues free, and frugality, which does surpass those beauties all: The weaving art in every part, whose splendid flow'ring branches wide, Doth blossom here through all the year, at Glasgow on the Banks of Clyde.
