Waly waly
Language: English
O waly waly, up the bank, And waly waly, down the brae, And waly by yon burnside, Where I and my Love wont to gae. I leant my back unto an aik, I thought it was a trusty tree, But first it bow'd and syne it brake, And sae did my true Love to me. O waly waly love is bonny, A little time while it is new; But when it's auld, it waxeth cauld, And fades awa' like morning dew. O wherefore should I busk my head? O wherefore should I kame my hair? For my true Love has me forsook, And says he'll never lo'e me mair. Now Arthur-seat shall be my bed, The sheets shall ne'er be warm'd by me; Saint Anton's well shall be my drink, Since my true Love's forsaken me. O Mart'mas wind! when wilt thou blaw, And shake the green leaves aff the tree? 0 gentle Death! when wilt thou come, And tak' a life that wearies me?
waly = an interjection of distress
aik = oak tree
syne = then
busk = dress, attire one's self
Arthur-seat= volcanic hill in Edinburgh
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
aik = oak tree
syne = then
busk = dress, attire one's self
Arthur-seat= volcanic hill in Edinburgh
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by John Linton Gardner (1917 - 2011), "Waly waly", op. 104 no. 1, published 1969 [ women's chorus and piano ], from Three Amorous Airs, no. 1, London : Oxford University Press [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Waly waly", Hob. XXXIa:214bis, JHW XXXII/3 no. 185 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 165