The Pear Tree

A well known song in Dundee and the Angus countryside. Recorded at the Corran Hall, Oban during the Young Champions tour of 1992. Sung by Scott Gardiner who was brought up in Angus in a family where old songs and bothy ballads were a part of life.

1: Twa young lads belanged this nation, Forfar was their destination; Went oot one night or so I'm told, Aa for tae hae a midnight stroll. Wi a hi dum ho dum, tum a like a daisy, Tum a like a daisy wi a tum a lum a lo. 2: On their way they spied a pear tree, Whar pears they hung as guid as could be; And with this pear tree they felt inclined, So up this pear tree they did climb. 3: Up this pear tree we were landed, Up this pear tree we were stranded; But it wisna the pears that caught wir ee, 'Twas a lad an a lass lyin in a-low the tree. 4: Well this young man began to embrace her, This young man began to unlace her; He pit doon his coat tae save her goun, When aa the pears come a-rummilin doon. 5: Well this young lad gazed up in wonder, We pelted doon the pears like thunder; He picked up his lass an awa did flee, And he left his coat lyin in a-low the tree. 6: Noo the owner of the coat we did enquire, The owner of the coat wis our desire; But the owner of the coat we never found out, So we got a bloody fine coat for nowt. 7: Here's aa ye lads and lasses whar be, Never dae your coortin in a-low a pear tree; Or if ye do ye’ll hear a soun, When aa the pears come a-rummilin doon. Wi a hi dum ho dum, tum a like a daisy, Tum a like a daisy wi a tum a lum a lo.