One of the largest collections of Scottish Ballads & Scots Folk Songs, lyrics, celtic music and downloads available on the internet.
Traditional Celtic Music, Scottish Songs & Border Ballads
Scots' musician, songwriter, & balladeer.
Hazel Whyte
Scots' Music
No Churchman
Am I
A simple brief
In the words
of Burns, as he
wrote from the heart.

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victorie.

Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach proud Edward's power,
Chains and slaverie.

Wha would be a traitor-knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a Slave?
Let him turn and flie:

Wha for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Free-man stand, or free-man fa',
Let him follow me.

By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your Sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

Lay the proud Usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us Do - or Die!!!

Choose your destiny.
No churchman am I for to rail and to write
No statesman nor soldier to plot or to fight
No sly man of business contriving a snare
For a big-belly'd bottle's the whole of my care

The peer I dont envy, I give him his bow
I scorn not the peasant, tho' ever so low
But a club of good fellows, like those that are here
And a bottle like this are my glory and care

Here passes the Squire on his brother- his horse
There Centum per Centum, the Cit with his purse
But see you the Crown how it waves in the air
There a big-belly'd bottle still eases my care

The wife o' my bosom, alas! she did die
For sweet consolation to church I did fly
I found that old Solomon proved it so fair
That a big-belly'd bottle's a cure for all care

I once was persuaded a venture to make
A letter inform'd me that all was to wreck
But the pursy old landlord just waddl'd upstairs
With a glorious bottle that ended my cares

Life's cares they are comforts, a maxim laid down
By the Bard, what d'ye call him, that wore the black gown
And faith I agree with the old prig to a hair
For a big-belly'd bottle's a heaven of care
Tab/Sheet Music
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