Fair Drumallachie

Jock Duncan: On Autumn Harvest ah007: Old Songs & Bothy Ballads: Grand to Be a Working Man. Recorded at the Fife Traditional Singing Festival May 2008.

Strolling along the banks of the river Don, a young man overhears a fair maid sighing that her love is far from home. After testing her out for her faithfulness he finally reveals himself as her true love returned from the wars. Of the many Broken Token songs with the seven years parted motif, this is one of the most literary. It seems fairly widespread in Scottish tradition and there are a number of quite varied versions the Greig-Duncan collection (GD 5.1043).

1: It was a chill November time when autumn leaves were gone,
One evening as I ventured forth along the banks o Don;
There I met a fair young maid and softly thus sighed she,
"My love is far from Sinnahard and fair Drumallachie."

2: Queen Mary on her Scottish throne was never half so fair,
From her brow hung many a lock and curl o gowden hair;
Her cheeks were like the roses below her rolling ee,
But aye she sighed for Sinnahard and fair Drumallachie.

3: Says I, "My pretty fair young maid, why venture here alone?
Lamenting on some absent one along the banks o Don;
What is the reason of your grief come tell it aa tae me."
But aye she sighed for Sinnahard and fair Drumallachie.

4: "Oh Jamie was my true loves name, he came from banks o Don,
He was the fairest, fine young man that eer the sun shone on;
But the cruel, cruel wars for Germany has taen my love fae me,
And aye she sighed for Sinnahard and fair Drumallachie.

5: Says I, "My pretty fair maid, will ye gie me your hand?
For on the bonnie banks o Don I hae baith hoose and land;
And I will gie them aa tae ye if ye my love will be."
But aye she sighed for Sinnahard and fair Drumallachie.

6: She said, "Young man, your offers fair but you I must deny,
For the sake of my true love I am to live and die;
And in a space of seven long years it's black shall cover me."
And aye she sighed for Sinnahard and fair Drumallachie.

7: When I saw my true love weep, nae longer could I stand,
But took her in my airms twa, said, "Jeannie, I'm your man,
And for your fidelity, of care ye are now free,
And we'll reside at Sinnahard and fair Drumallachie,

and fair Drumallachie.