Bonnie Udny

Sung by Jane Turriff accompanying herself with harmonium.

While this version is localised to Udny in Aberdeenshire, there are a number of Scottish, Irish and English equivalents to this song. (GD 1089, Ord 341, and Henry 171 has a similar first line). The song is still quite well known in the living tradition in Scotland and there are other versions on Springthyme: Jock Duncan (SPRCD 1039), Daisy Chapman (MTCD 308).

Jane: 'T's a gey aul song that. There's a lot o travellers eest tae sing't.

1: Oh Udny, bonnie Udny, ye stand faur ye shine, The more l look at you the more my heart warms, Bit if I wis in Udny I wid think mysel at hame, For it's there l've got a sweetheart but here I've got none. 2: Over hills and through valleys how often l've gone, Through brambles and brushwood, myself all alone, Through hedges an ditches an dark nights an clear, I have wandered tae Udny tae visit my dear. 3: Oh it's nae the lang journey that I hae tae go; It's nae the long road that vexes me so; It's the leavin o Udny an the loved ones behind; O Udny, bonnie Udny, ye're aye in ma mind. 4: It wis on a certain Sunday that me an my love met, Which caused me on a Monday tae mourn ower my fate; Bit tae spoil my eyes fae cryin, whit a fool I wid be, For she's gone to coort another, let her go where will she. 5: Aa the lads aboot Udny, they're aa rovin blades, They tak great delight in coortin fair maids; They tak them, ay, an kiss them an spend their money free, Bit aa the lands in bonnie Scotland, bonnie Udny's for me. 6: Oh we'll drink an be merry, we'll drink then gang hame, But if we bide here muckle langer, we'll get a bad name, And tae get a bad name, love, an fill oursels fu, An we've the lang walks tae Udny, they're ay tae gang through.

Recorded by Allan Palmer Mintlaw 1979