Kelvin Grove.
[This highly popular song first appeared in "The Harp of Kenfrewshire," a collection of songs published at Paisley in two small rolumes, about the year 1820. In the Index to that work, "John Sim" is the name given as the author of the song. Mr. Sim furnished a number of original pieces for the Harp of Renfrewshire, and indeed had a considerable hand in getting up the work, but before its completion, he left Paisley for the West Indies, where he died soon after his arrival. Meanwhile, the song rose into repute, when Mr. Thomas Lyle, surgeon, Glasgow, stepped forward and declared himself to be the author. In support of his claim, he stated, that he was in the habit of corresponding with Mr. Sim during the publication of the Harp of Renfrewshire—that he sent him the song of Kelvin Grove, with another song, to be published anonymously in that work—that Mr. Sim having transcribed them both, they were found among his papers after his departure, and naturally enough supposed to be his own. So satisfactorily did Mr. Lyle establish his claim, that Mr. Purdie, music-seller, Edinburgh, was induced to become the purchaser of the copyright from him, although he had previously bargained for the copyright with Mr. Sim's executors for a few pounds.—Kelvin Grove, a picturesque and richly wooded dell through which the river Kelvin flows, lies at a very short distance to the north-west of Glasgow, and will in all probability scon be comprehended within the wide-spreading boundaries of the city itself. At one part of it (North Woodside) is an old well, called the Pear-Tree-Well, from a pear-tree which formerly grew over it. This used to be, and still is to some extent, a favourite place of resort for young parties from the city on summer afternoons. The tune of Kelvin Grove, or "Bonnie lassie, O," was originally arranged with an accompaniment for the piano-forte by R. A. Smith, and subsequently by Mr. Braham. We give here the author's own version of the song, from a small collection of Ballads and Songs, original and selected, published by himself in 1827. It differs somewhat from the copy in "The Harp of Renfrewshire," which has only six stanzas.]
Let us haste to Kelvin grove, bonnie lassie, O,
Through its mazes let us rove, bonnie lassie, O,
Where the rose in all her pride.
Paints the hollow dingle side,
Where the midnight fairies glide, bonnie lassie, O,
Let us wander by the mill, bonnie lassie, O,
To the cove beside the rill, bonnie lassie, O.
Where the glens rebound the call,
Of the roaring waters' fall,
Thro' the mountain's rocky hall, bonnie lassie, O.
O Kelvin banks are fair, bonnie lassie, O,
When in summer we are there, bonnie lassie, O,
There, the May-pink's crimson plume.
Throws a soft, but sweet perfume,
Round the yellow banks of broom, bonnie lassie, O.
Though I dare not call thee mine, bonnie lassie, O,
As the smile of fortune's thine, bonnie lassie, O,
Yet with fortune on my side,
I could stay thy father's pride.
And win thee for my bride, bonnie lassie, O.
But the frowns of fortune lower, bonnie lassie, O,
On thy lover at this hour, bonnie lassie, O,
Ere yon golden orb of day
Wake the warblers on the spray.
From this land I must away, bonnie lassie, O.
Then farewell to Kelvin grove, bonnie lassie, O,
And adieu to all I love, bonnie lassie, O,
To the river winding clear,
To the fragrant scented breer,
Even to thee of all most dear, bonnie lassie, O.
When upon a foreign shore, bonnie lassie, O,
Should I fall midst battle's roar, bimnie lassie, O,
Then, Helen! shouldst thou hear
Of thy lover on his bier,
To his memory shed a tear, bonnie lassie, O.