Traditional Scottish Songs
- Here's to the year that's awa !

Drinking songs were popular in the 18th century (Burns wrote quite a few) when "ale" rather than whisky was the most common drink. Here is one which has come down through the years, written by John Dunlop (1755-1820) who was Lord Provost of Glasgow around 1796.


Here's to the year that's awa !

Here's to the year that's awa !
We'll drink it in strong and in sma'!
And here's to ilk bonnie young lassie we lo'ed
While swift flew the year that's awa;
And here's to ilk bonnie young lassie we lo'ed
While swift flew the year that's awa.

Here's to the sodger who bled,
And the sailor who bravely did fa';
Their fame is alive, though their spirits are fled
On the wings o the year that's awa;
Their fame is alive, though their spirits are fled
On the wings o the year that's awa.

Here's to the friends we can trust
When the storms of adversity blaw;
May they live in our song and be nearest our heart,
Nor depart like the year that's awa;
May they live in our song and be nearest our heart,
Nor depart like the year that's awa.

Meaning of unusual words:
awa=away
sma'=small
ilk=every
fa'=fall

Return to the Index of Traditional Scottish Songs




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