Brian McNeill, 1980
The first song McNeill wrote for Battlefield Band. The Falkirk Tryst was one of the biggest cattle markets in Europe; it started in the 1770s, hit its peak in the 1840s, and the advent of railways led to its steady decline until closing around 1900. Wars in Germany that the UK was involved in during that time occurred in 1792-1797, 1806-1815, and 1848. The American Civil War disrupted the cotton supply for the Scottish weaving economy, and adoption of tractors in the UK began in the mid-1800s but weren't widespread until the mid-20th century.
Come bonnie lass, lie near me, An let the brandy cheer ye
For the road frae Fife tae Falkirk’s lang An cauld an wet an weary
My trade it is the weavin’ In the bonnie toun o Leven
An we’ll drink a health tae the farmers’ dames Wha’ll buy our claith the morn.
Chorus:
You can see them aa, the lads o the fair Lads frae the Forth an the Carron water
Workin lads an lads wi gear Lads wha’d sell ye the provost’s dochter
Sodjers back frae the German wars Peddlers up frae the border
An lassies wi an eye for mair than the kye At the trysting fair at Falkirk.
Come, Geordie, haud the pony, For the path is steep an stony
An its three lang weeks frae the Isle o’ Skye An the beasts are thin an bony
We’ll tak the last o the siller An buy oursels a gill or two
An drink to the lads wha’ll buy our kye In Falkirk toun the morn
Staun hear an I’ll show ye There’s the toun below ye
But we’d best bide here in the barn the nicht For the nightwatch dinna know ye
My brother, he’s a ploughman An I’m for the feeing now, man
An we’ll drink tae the price o the hairvest corn In Falkirk toun the morn.
The wark o the weaver’s over Likewise the days o the drover
An the ploughboy sits on a tractor nou Too high to see the clover
The warkin’s no sae steady, But the lads are aye still ready
Tae drink a health tae the working man In Falkirk toun the morn.