The Braes o Balquhidder

Robert Tannahill’s bonnie sang about nature and love performed by Iona Fyfe. Paisley poet Tannahill’s sang inspired Belfast musician Francis McPeake to adapt the Scottish poet’s work as the famous melody Wild Mountain Thyme.

The Braes o Balquhidder
by Robert Tannahill

Will ye go, lassie, go,
Tae the braes o Balquhidder
Whaur the blaeberries grow
‘Mang the bonnie Hielan heather
Whaur the deer and the rae
Lichtly boundin thegither
Sport the lang simmer day
On the braes o Balquhidder

I will twin thee a bower
By the clear silver fountain
And I’ll cover it ower
Wi the flooers o the mountain
I will range through the wilds
And deep glens sae dreary
And return wi their spoils
Tae the bower o my dearie

Will ye go, lassie, go,
Tae the braes o Balquhidder
Whaur the blaeberries grow
‘Mang the bonnie Hielan heather

When the rude wintry win
Idly raves roon oor dwellin
And the roar o the linn
On the nicht breeze is swellin
Sae merrily we’ll sing
As the storm rattles ower us
Til the dear shielin ring
Wi the licht liltin chorus

Will ye go, lassie, go
Tae the braes o Balquhidder
Whaur the blaeberries grow
‘Mang the bonnie Hielan heather

Noo the simmer’s in prime
Wi the flooers richly bloomin
Wi the wild mountain thyme
Aw the moorlan’s perfumin
Tae oor dear native scenes
Let us journey thegither
Whaur glad innocence reigns
‘Mang the braes o Balquhidder

The Braes o Balquhidder