Jock O'Hazeldean

Traditional - Scots; www.bartleby.com (Harvard Classics Vol. 41) says that Sir Walter Scott wrote the words

I must have learned this in the 1960s, when I started hanging out with other folksingers. I hear it in a lowland Scots dialect, and sometimes sing it that way – I heard it sung a number of different ways here in the States.

Gordon - laud

"Why weep ye by the tide, lady

Why weep ye by the tide?

I'll wed ye to my youngest son

And ye shall be his bride

And ye shall be his bride, lady

So comely to be seen"

But aye she's let the tears downfall

For Jock O'Hazeldean

"Now let this willful grief be done

And dry your cheek so pale

Young Frank is chief of Errington

And Lord of Langleydale

His step is first in peaceful hall

His sword in battle keen"

But aye she's let the tears downfall

For Jock O'Hazeldean

"A gown o' gold ye shall not lack

Nor braid to bind your hair

Nor mettled hound nor managed hawk

Nor palfrey fresh and fair

And ye the foremost of them all

Shall ride, our forest queen"

But aye she's let the tears downfall

For Jock O'Haeldean

The kirk* was decked at morning tide

The tapers glimmered fair

The priest and bridegroom wait the bride

And dame knight are there

They've sought her both by tower and hall

The lady was not seen

She's o'er the border and awa †

With Jock O'Hazeldean

*church

† away

Jock O'Hazeldean is recorded on the album Dear To Our Island