The Book of Scottish Song/Scotia's Sons

Scotia's Sons.

[Written by a journeyman cabinet-maker in Glasgow of the name of Daniel M'Phail, author of several other convivial and patriotic songs, particularly one beginning, "Happy we've been a' thegither," and another entitled "The twa-score and twa," both of which will be found further on in the present collection. M'Phail was unfortunate in life, and died in distressed circumstances about the year 1833. He was a native, we understand, of Port-Glasgow, though long resident in the parent city.—Tune, "Andro and his cutty gun."]

⁠Blythe, blythe, around the nappie,
⁠Let us join in social glee;
⁠While we're here we'll ha'e a drappie—
⁠Scotia's sons ha'e aye been free.

Our auld forbears, when ower their yill,
⁠And cantie bickers round did ca'.
Forsooth, they cried, anither gill!
⁠For sweirt we are to gang awa'.

Some hearty cock wad then ha'e sung
⁠An auld Scotch sonnet aff wi' glee,
Syne pledged his cogue: the chorus rung,
⁠Auld Scotia and her sons are free.

Thus cracks, and jokes, and sangs gaed roun',
⁠Till morn the screens o' light did draw:
Yet, dreich to rise, the carles roun'
⁠Cried, Deoch an doras, then awa'!

The landlord then the nappie brings,
⁠And toasts, Fu' happy a' may be.
Syne tooms the cogue: the chorus rings,
⁠Auld Scotia's sons shall aye be free.

Then like our dads o' auld lang syne,
⁠Let social glee unite us a',
Aye blythe to meet, our mou's to weet,
⁠But aye as sweirt to gang awa'.

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