A Christmas song in Scots
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Story behind the song
After I'd returned to Scotland with my 5 daughters in 1978 I joined the Scots Language Society and wrote lots of poems and song in Scots. Several of these, including this Christmas song were later published in my book of Poems and Sangs in Scots.
Lyrics
(first voice)
Glinkin throu the derkest nicht - a starn o howp:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
Nae mair wecht o pyne an fricht. Ye’se be oor stowp:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
Gude the Daddy an Gude the Haly Speerit
Gude the Laddie.Guid news and guid tae hear it.
Hecht o inner peace an licht that nane sall cowp:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
(second voice)
Happit in yer swaddlin goun mang reek o sharn:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
Fermers wi their brits cam doon intil yer barn:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
Gude the Daddy an Gude the Haly Speerit
Gude the Laddie. Guid news and guid tae hear it.
Wyse men tae forgaithered roun ablow yer starn:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
(Duet: first voice words)
Lang hecht Prince o meikle wirth in ill faured staw:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
Haly Jesus Gude whase birth we nou reca:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
Gude the Daddy an Gude the Haly Speerit
Gude the Laddie. Guid news and guid tae hear it.
(Duet: second voice words)
Gude the Daddy an Gude the Haly Speerit
Gude the Laddie.Guid news and guid tae hear it.
Een throu heuch an burn an firth oor wey maun fa:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
Syne ye’se ca us tae yer girth sae bien an braw:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
(last two lines: both voices together)
Ay we lippen: “Peace on yirth, guidwill tae aw”:
Mary’s bonny bairn.
