“Bonnie Buchairn”

Description

The singer asks, "Quhilk o' ye lasses will go to Buchairn (x3) And be the gudewife o' bonnie Buchairn?" He turns down the pretty girls, wanting "the lass wi' the shaif o' bank notes." He describes his plans for the wedding

Supplemental text

Bonnie Buchairn
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From (George R. Kinloch), The Ballad Book (1827), number XX,
pp. 69-70. No source listed.

  Quhilk o' ye lasses will go to Buchairn?
  Quhilk o' ye lasses will go to Buchairn?
  Quhilk o' ye lasses will go to Buchairn?
  And be the gudewife o' bonnie Buchairn?

I'll  no hae the lass wi' the gowden locks,
Nor will I the lass wi' the bonnie breast-knots,
But I'll hae the lass wi' the shaif o' bank notes,
To plenish the toun o' bonnie Buchairn.
  Quhilk o' ye, &c.

I'll get a thigging frae auld John Watt,
And I'll get ane frae the Lady o' Glack,
And I'll get anither frae honest John Gray,
For keeping his sheep sae lang on the brae.
  Quhilk o' ye, &c.

Lassie, I am gau to Lawren'-fair,
"Laddie, what are ye gaun to do there?"
To buy some ousen, some graith, and some bows,
To plenish the toun o' Buchairn's knows.

  Then, some o' ye, lasses, maun go to Buchairn,
  Some o' ye, lasses, maun go to Buchairn,
  Now, some o' ye, lasses, maun go to Buchairn,
  And be the gudewife o' bonnie Buchairn.

Notes

In dealing with old songbooks which do not list sources, it is a perpetual problem to determine what is traditional and what is just space-filling garbage. Kinloch's looks a little artsy and archaizing, as if touched up -- but the basic text seems very traditional.

Either that, or it's the first-ever proposal for an urban renewal grant. - RBW

References

1. Kinloch-BBook XX, pp. 69-70, "Bonnie Buchairn" (1 text)
2. Ford-Vagabond, pp. 119-121, "Glowerowerum" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. ST KinBB20 (Full)
4. Roud #1101
5. BI, KinBB20