Traditional Scottish Songs
- Bonnie George Campbell

The image of the fighter riding off to do battle and his horse coming back alone occurs frequently in Western movies. This evocative song about a member of the Campbell clan predates Hollywood by a few hundred years.


Bonnie George Campbell

High upon Hielands and low upon Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell rode oot on a day.
Saddled and bridled, sae bonnie rode he,
Hame cam' his guid horse, but never came he.

Saddled and booted and bridled rode he,
A plume tae his helmet, a sword at his knee.
But toom came his saddle and bluidy tae see,
Hame cam' his guid horse, but never came he

Doon cam' his auld mither greetin' fu' sair,
Oot cam' his bonnie wife rivin' her hair.
"My meadows lie green and by corn is unshorn,
My barn it tae build and my baby's unborn."

High upon Hielands and low upon Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell rode oot on a day.
Saddled and bridled, sae bonnie rode he
Hame cam' his guid horse, but never came he.

Meaning of unusual words:
toom=empty
rivin'=tearing

Return to the Index of Traditional Scottish Songs



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