trad
Archie Fisher recorded in 1976 on The Man With a Rhyme, where he wrote “A version of ‘Skipping Barefoot Through the Heather’ that I learned from Belle Stewart. Each variant of this song has its own charm in melody and text.” weel faur’d = well favored. Lane = alone. Yowes thegither = ewes together. Loon = lad. Lo’ed = loved.
Archie Fisher: Queen Amang the Heather
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbrmKHZ5C2Y
As I roved out one fine simmer’s morn Among lofty hills, moorlands and mountains, It was there I spied a weel faur’d maid As I, wi’ others, was oot a-huntin’. No shoes nor stockings did she wear, And neither had she cap nor feather, But her golden hair hung in ringlets fair And the gentle breeze blew ’round her shoulder. I said, “Braw lassie, why roam your lane, Why roam your lane amang the heather?” She said, “My faither’s awa’ frae hame And I’m herdin’ a’ his yowes thegither.” I said, “Braw Lassie, if ye’ll be mine, And care to lie on a bed of feather, In silks and satins you will shine, And you’ll be my queen amang the heather.” She said, “Kind sir, your offer’s good, Ah, but I’m afraid it was meant for laughter. For I see you are some rich squire’s son And I am but a poor shepherd’s daughter. “But had ye been a shepherd loon A-herdin’ yowes in yonder valley, Or had ye been some ploughman’s son, Wi’ a’ my heart I could hae lo’ed ye.” Now, I’ve been to halls and I’ve been tae balls, I’ve been to London and Balquidder, But the bonniest lass that e’er I saw She was herdin’ yowes amang the heather. So we both sat down upon the plain, We sat awhile and we talked thegither, And we left the yowes to stray their lane Till I lo’ed my queen amang the heather.