The Book of Scottish Song/The wood of Craigie-lea

The wood of Craigie-lea.

[Written by Tannahill, and set to music by his friend James Barr of Kilbarchan. Both the words and air are sweet and natural. Craigie-lea lies to the north-west of Paisley, but its rural beauties have been of late years encroached on by the erection of a gas-work in its vicinity.]

⁠Thou bonnie wood of Craigie-lea,
⁠Thou bonnie wood of Craigie-lea,
⁠Near thee I pass'd life's early day,
⁠And won my Mary's heart in thee.

The broom, the brier, the birken bush,
⁠Bloom bonnie o'er the flowery lea,
An' a' the sweets that ane can wish
⁠Frae nature's hand, are strew'd on thee.
⁠Thou bonnie wood, &c.

Far ben thy dark-green planting's shade,
⁠The cushat croodles am'rously,
The mavis, down thy buchted glade,
⁠Gars echo ring frae every tree.
⁠Thou bonnie wood, &c.

Awa', ye thoughtless, murd'ring gang,
⁠Wha tear the nestlings ere they flee!
They'll sing you yet a canty sang,
⁠Then, O in pity let them be!
⁠Thou bonnie wood, &c.

When winter blaws in sleety showers,
⁠Frae aff the Norlan' hills sae hie,
He lightly skiffs thy bonnie bowers,
⁠As laith to harm a flower in thee.
⁠Thou bonnie wood, &c.

Though fate should drag me south the line,
⁠Or o'er the wide Atlantic sea;
The happy hours I'll ever min'
⁠That I in youth ha'e spent in thee.
⁠Thou bonnie wood, &c.

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