Jim Reid: Rohallion

Sung by Jim Reid on Jim Reid: I Saw the Wild Geese Flee
Words by Violet Jacob set to music by Jim Reid/Springthyme Music © 1984

One of Jim and the band’s favourite songs. Set to music by Jim, this is another poem from Violet Jacob and brings us to the end of the album. So, take the floor, in waltz time. Rohallion hill and loch is set in the heart of Scotland close to Birnam and Dunkeld.

Ma buits are at rest on the midden,
I havenae a plack; [i.e. a penny
And ma breeks they’re no dandy anes, forrit,
And they’re waur at the back;
On the road that comes oot o the Hielands
I see as I traivel the airth
Frae the braes at the back o Rohallion
The reek abin Perth.

There’s a canny wee hoose wi a gairden
In a neuk o Strathtay;
An ma mither is bakin the bannocks,
And the bairns are at play;
In the gloamin ma faither, the shepherd,
Looks doun for a blink o the licht
As he gaithers the yowes at the shieling
Tae fauld them at nicht.

Noo there isnae a hoose that could haud me
Frae here tae the sea,
When a wind frae the braes o Rohallion
Comes creepin tae me;
And niver a lowe frae the ingle
Can draw like the trail an the shine
O the stars i the loch o Rohallion
A fitstep o mine.

Noo the snaw’s in the wind, an the weepies [i.e. ragwort
Hang deid on the shaw,
An pale the leaves left on the rowan,
I’m soothward awa;
But a voice like a wraith blaws ahent me
And sings as I’m liftin ma pack,
“I am waitin – Rohallion, Rohallion –
Ma lad, ye’ll be back!”