(C) Scottish Society of Martha's Vineyard, 2021 - P.O. Box 1895, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

The Flowers of the Forest

I've heard the lilting, at the yowe-milking,
Lasses a-lilting before dawn o' day;
But now they are moaning on ilka green

loaning; "The Flowers of the Forest

are a' wede away".

As buchts, in the morning, nae blythe

lads are scorning; The lasses are lonely

and dowie and wae.
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighing

and sobbing, Ilk ane lifts her leglen,

and hies her away.

In hairst, at the shearing, nae youths

now are jeering, the Bandsters are lyart,

and runkled and grey.

At fair or at preaching, nae wooing, nae

fleeching, the Flowers of the Forest are a'

wede away.

At e'en, in the gloaming, nae swankies

are roaming, 'Bout stacks wi' the lasses

at bogle to play.
But ilk ane sits drearie, lamenting her

dearie,  The Flowers of the Forest are

a' wede away.

Dule and wae for the order

sent our lads to the Border;

The English, for ance, by guile

wan the day: 

The Flowers of the Forest,

that foucht aye the foremost,

The prime o' our land are cauld

in the clay.

We'll hae nae mair lilting,

at the yowe-milking,

Women and bairns are dowie

and wae.

Sighing and moaning,

on ilka green loaning, the Flowers

of the Forest are all wede away.

Meaning of unusual words:
yowe=ewe
ilka=every
wede=withered
buchts=cattle pens
dowie-sad
wae=woeful
daffin'=dallying
gabbin'=talking
leglen=stool
hairst=harvest
bandsters=binders
lyart=grizzled
runkled=crumpled
fleeching=coaxing
gloaming=twilight
swankies=young lads
bogle=peek-a-boo
dule=mourning clothes

The lyrics below were written by Jean Elliot in the 18th century

and is a reworking of an older song about the non-return of the large

number of Scottish soldiers after the Battle of Flodden. www.rampantscotland.com 

Thank for Attending Our 2021 Virtual Burns Supper. We Hope You Enjoyed This Experience.

We All Hope to Gather Together In-Person for Our 35th Burns Nicht Supper in 2022.

Stay Safe Until We Meet Again

Richard M. Rego, Dorian Lopes, Nathan Lopes, and Bruce Nevin, Webmasters

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