Ye Banks and Braes

This is a song that I put on one of my Scottish folk song Cd's because it was a well-known Scottish song. It took me a while to really listen to it, because I had more upbeat songs on the Cd, and I thought this one was a little boring sounding. I was wrong, it is actually a beautiful song, with beautiful lyrics. Its about a woman who falls in love with a scottish man, but he leaves her. It also turns out she is pregnant! I didn't realize that until I looked up the meaning. It makes sense now that I look at it. Wow, its late for me to be up, but i had caffine so there is no hope for sleep at the moment.

Anyway, there are alot of songs that are about lost love, but this song is so relatable that I can't leave it alone. Its one of those songs that captures a moment that I'm sure everyone has experienced. I know that when I am upset, I like to sit somewhere, and look around me. I look at all the beautiful, familiar things that I have seen so many times, and let my mind and body sit still. In those moments, everything is quiet, and I just feel bittersweet. The beautiful things around me look different, still beautiful, but they have a saddness to them. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't see them like that before. Regardless of of what I am upset about, that moment always sticks out to me. I feel like I want to cry, I want to know why beauty still exists when I feel so terrible, but regardless of what I feel, sitting there always makes me feel better. What is so wonderful about this song, is that it captures that moment, of looking and feeling bittersweet.

I've memorized the chorus so far. It is a really fun song to sing. There are a few parts where you have to make your voice roll over itself (thats the best way I can explain it). Oddly enough, though I am no where near to the best singer in the world, I can roll my voice perfectly for this song. I love doing that, I love hearing it.

I love this song for another reason too. It has a simple, but beautiful melody. Its the kind of song that survived years and years, because it is singable to common people, and the melody is easy to remmember. Its amazing to me that this melody is so old, and has survived so long. I can never resist old songs, because I want to preserve them, and keep them being sung. I can see myself singing it while I clean or something. I want to keep this song alive. Mind you, this isn't the only, or the first scottish folk song to create this kind of feeling from me. There are so many fantastic ones! This one has caught my attention today though.

Check it out:

Ye banks and braes

Lyrics:

Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chaunt, ye little birds,
And I sae weary, fu' o' care.
Ye'll break my heart, ye warbling birds
That wanton through the flowery thorn,
Ye mind me o' departed joys,
Departed, never to return.

Oft hae I roved by bonnie Doon
To see the rose and woodbine twine,
And ilka bird sang o' its love,
And fondly sae did I o' mine.
Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose
Fu' sweet upon its thorny tree
But my fause lover stole my rose,
And Ah! he left the thorn wi' me.