Traditional Scottish Songs
- The Wee Bird's Song
Here is a simple love song by William Jerdan (1782-1869) about bird song bringing two lovers together. Jerdan was the son of a minor landowner on the estates of the Duke of Roxburghe in what is now the Scottish Borders. His mother claimed descent from the Royal House of Stuart. He followed a career in journalism and became an editor of a number of papers, including the Literary Gazette, a post he held for over 30 years. In 1821 he aided in establishing the Royal Society of Literature. He was one of the founders of the Melodist's Club, for the promotion of harmony, and of the Garrick Club, for the patronage of the drama.
The Wee Bird's Song
I heard a wee bird singing,
In my chamber as I lay;
The casement open swinging,
As morning woke the day.
And the boughs around were twining,
The bright sun through them shining,
And I had long been pining,
For my Willie far away —
When I heard the wee bird singing.He heard the wee bird singing,
For its notes were wondrous clear;
As if wedding bells were ringing,
Melodious to the ear.
And still it rang that wee bird's song;
Just like the bells—dong-ding, ding-dong;
While my heart beat so quick and strong—
It felt that he was near!
And he heard the wee bird singing.We heard the wee bird singing,
After brief time had flown;
The true bells had been ringing,
And Willie was my own.
And oft I tell him, jesting, playing,
I knew what the wee bird was saying,
That morn, when he, no longer straying,
Flew back to me alone.
And we love the wee bird singing.
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
