Traditional Scottish Songs
- We're No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa'

Originally a drinking song, this is the archetypal "farewell" song, played by pipers on the quayside when many a ship has left port. There are a number of variations of the words - though most people only know the chorus.


We're No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa'

Chorus:
For we're no' awa' tae bide awa',
   For we're no' awa tae le'e ye,
For we're no' awa' tae bide awa',
   We'll aye come back an' see ye.

As I gaed doon by Wilsontoon
   I met auld Johnnie Scobbie,
Says I to him will ye hae a hauf,
   Says he, "Man! That's my hobby."

Chorus:

So we had a hauf an' anither hauf,
   And then we had anither,
When he got fou' he shouted
   "Hoo!
   It's Carnwath Mill for ever."

Chorus:

We wandered doon the street again
   We cleekit unco cheery,
When John got hame his wife cried shame,
   I see you're enjoyin' your hobby.

Chorus:

Of a' the friens that ere I kenned,
   There's nane like Johnnie Scobbie,
His hert is leal, he's true as steel,
   An' a hauf is aye his hobby.

Chorus:

So whenever friendly friens may meet,
   Wherever Scots foregather,
We'll raise our gless, we'll shout
    Hurroo,
   It's Carnwath Mill for ever.

Chorus:

Meaning of unusual words:
tae bide awa'=to stay away
aye=always
gaed=went
hauf=a measure of alcohol
fou'=drunk
cleekit=walk arm in arm
unco=extremely
kenned=knew
leal=loyal

Return to the Index of Traditional Scottish Songs



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