Will Ye Gang, Love- Archie Fisher (Glas) 1976
[From Archie Fisher's album- "Will Ye Gang, Love." Topic 1976, track 5. Re-release 1993, Green Linnet. Fisher's source is not known to me and this could be an arrangement. The melody seem to be not derivative of other 3rd generation versions and at least two verses are not part of the standard versions. This was learned while Archie live at Torbain Farm Cottages, just outside Kirkcaldy in Fife, probably in the late 1960s. The Black Family (Brothers) did a cover of it in 1986.
R. Matteson 2017]
Will Ye Gang, Love-- as sung by Archie Fisher on the album- "Will Ye Gang, Love." Topic 1976.
As I cam’ in by yon Rashie moor,
Wha’ spied I at my true love’s door,
My heart grew sair and my een grew blind
To see my bonnie love leave me behind.
CHORUS And will ye gang, love, and leave me noo,
Will ye gang, love, and leave me noo,
Wad ye forsake your ain love true
And gang wi’ a lad that ye never knew.
And as I came in by yon lang toun end,
I saw another my love attend,
I bowed my head and I cried, “Ochone!”
The best of my good days are done.
And I will tell you the reason why
Because he has more gowd than I
And I will tell you the reason true
The sweeter taste of the love that’s new.
CHORUS
For I leaned my back up against an oak
Thinking it was a trusty tree
And first it bent and then it broke
And so has my love done unto me.
But if you love me, we’ll never part
And instead of gowd ye can hae my heart
Ye can hae my heart wi’ a richt guid will
Ye’re a bonnie lass and I love ye still.
CHORUS
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cam’ in by yon = came via that
Wha’ = who
sair = sore
een = eyes
ye gang = you go
noo = now
Wad ye = would you
gang wi’ a lad = go with a man
Ochone = a gaelic word meanin “Woe is me”
gowd = gold
hae = have
wi’ a richt guid will = with a right goodwill