The Shearin's No For You

Sung by Jim Reid on Jim Reid: I Saw the Wild Geese Flee
Words and music traditional arranged by Jim Reid/Springthyme Music © 1984

This traditional song has rarely been published, but is in fact widely known in a number of different versions and must date back at least to the 1700s. Around 1820, Thomas Lyle of Paisley used the tune for his famous song Kelvingrove.

"Oh the shearin's no for you ma bonnie lassie O,
Oh the shearin's no for you ma bonnie lassie O,
Oh the shearin's no for you for yer back it winna boo,
And yer belly's rowin fu ma bonnie lassie O."

"Dae ye mind yon banks o Ayr ma bonnie lassie O?
Dae ye mind yon banks o Ayr ma bonnie lassie O?
Dae ye mind yon banks o Ayr when ye held me in yer snare,
And yer love ye did declare ma bonnie lassie O?"

"Tak the buckles frae yer sheen ma bonnie lassie O,
Tak the buckles frae yer sheen ma bonnie lassie O,
Tak the buckles frae yer sheen for ye've married sic a loon,
And yer dancin days are deen ma bonnie lassie O."

"Tak the ribbons frae yer hair ma bonnie lassie O,
Tak the ribbons frae yer hair ma bonnie lassie O,
Tak the ribbons frae yer hair and let doun yer ringlets fair,
For ye've noucht but want and care ma bonnie lassie O."

"Oh the shearin's no for you ma bonnie lassie O,
Oh the shearin's no for you ma bonnie lassie O,
Oh the shearin's no for you for yer back it winna boo,
And yer belly's rowin fu ma bonnie lassie O."

c p 1984, 2015 Springthyme Records
www.springthyme.co.uk