Plooboy Lads

A bothy version of a song that is well known among the Scottish travellers and was made famous through the singing of Jeannie Robertson. She recorded it on her first Topic album (now on Springthyme SPRC 1025) under the title When I was new but Sweet Sixteen. A related song Peggy on the Banks o the Spey is in Greig (GD 1131). Charlie Murray sang this bothy version as: 'For they're awfa lads, the bothy lads, If they get fit they're seekin; They pack their kists and they gang an they list, An they leave the lassie greetin.' (on Scots Songs and Music, Springthyme SPR 1001).

Brian McNeill- guitar; Gordon Duncan - low whistle; & Chorus vocals.

1: The plooboy lads they are gey braw lads,
But they're gallus and deceivin O,
They will pack their kist and they'll gyang far awa,
And they'll leave their lassies greetin O.

2: Fan I wis only sweet sixteen,
And in beauty I wis bloomin O,
Noo little, little did I ken,
That at nineteen I'd be greetin O.

Chorus:
For the plooboy lads they're gey braw lads,
Bit they're gallus and deceivin O,
And they'll pack their kist and they'll gyang far awa,
And they'll leave their lassies greetin O.

3: If I had kent fit I noo ken,
An teen my mither's biddin O, [i.e. taken
I widna be sittin at yer fireside,
Singin hushabye ma bairnie O.

Chorus:
For the plooboy lads they are gey braw lads,
But they're gallus and deceivin O,
They will pack their kist and they'll gyang far awa,
And they'll leave their lassies greetin O.

4: Oh hushaba, noo I'm yer ma,
But the deil kens fa's yer daddy O,
But I'll tak care and I'll be aware
O the lang lie in the gloamin O.

Chorus:
For the plooboy lads, well they are gey braw lads,
But they're gallus and deceivin O,
And they'll pack their kist and they'll gyang far awa,
And they'll leave their lassies greetin O.

For the plooboy lads they are gey braw lads,
But they're gallus and deceivin O,
And they'll pack their kist and they'll gyang far awa,
And they'll leave their lassies greetin O.

c p 1996 Springthyme Records : www.springthyme.co.uk