The Book of Scottish Song/The Braes o' Gleniffer
The Braes o' Gleniffer.
[This beautiful song was written by Tannahill to the old air of "Bonnie Dundee." Mr. Ross of Aberdeen also composed a tune for it. Gleniffer braes lie at a short distance south-west of Paisley.]
Keen blaws the wind o'er the braes o' Gleniffer,
The auld castle turrets are cover'd wi' snaw,
How changed frae the time when I met wi' my lover,
Amang the broom bushes by Stanley green shaw.
The wild flowers o' simmer were spread a' sae bonnie,
The mavis sang sweet frae the green birken tree;
But far to the camp they ha'e march'd my dear Johnnie,
And now it is winter wi' nature and me.
Then ilk thing around us was blythesome and cheerie,
Then ilk thing around us was bonnie and braw;
Now naething is heard but the wind whistling drearie,
And naething is seen but the wide-spreading snaw.
The trees are a' bare, and the birds mute and dowie,
They shake the cauld drift frae their wings as they flee;
And chirp out their plaints, seeming wae for my Johnnie;
'Tis winter wi' them and 'tis winter wi' me.
Yon cauld sleety cloud skiffs alang the bleak mountain,
And shakes the dark fire on the stey rocky brae,
While down the deep glen brawls the snaw-flooded fountain,
That murmur'd sae sweet to my laddie and me.
It's no its loud roar on the wintry winds swellin',
It's no the cauld blast brings the tear to my e'e,
For, O! gin I saw but my bonnie Scots callan,
The dark days o' winter were simmer to me.