O come aґ ye tramps and hawker-lads anґ gaitherers oґ blaґ
That tramp the country rounґ and rounґ, come listen one and aґ
Iґll tell tae ye a rovinґ tale, anґ places I hae been
Far up into the snowy north, or sooth by Gretna Green.
Iґve seen the high Ben Nevis that gangs towerinґ tae the moon
Iґve been rounґ by Crieff anґ Callander anґ by Bonny Doon
Iґve been by Nethyґs silvery tide anґ places ill tae ken
Far up into the stormy north lies Urquartґs fairy glen
Sometimes noo I laugh tae myselґ when dodginґ alang the road
Wiґ a bag oґ meal slung upon my back, my face as brounґs a toad
Wiґ lumps oґcheese and tattie-scones or breid anґ braxie ham
Nae thinking wharґ Iґm cominґ frae nor thinkinґ whar Iґm gang.
Iґm happy in the summer-time beneath the dark blue sky
Nae thinkinґ in the morninґ at nicht where iґm gang to lie
Bothies or byres or barns, or oot amangst the hay
And if the weather does permit, Iґm happy aґ the day.
Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond, theyґve oft been seen by me
The Dee, the Don, the Devron, that aґ flows tae the sea
Dunrobin Castle, by the way, I nearly had forgot
And the reckless stanes oґcairn that mairks the hoose oґ John oґ Groat.
Iґve been by bonny Gallowaґ, anґ often rounґ Stranraer
My business leads me anywhere, I travel near anґ far
Iґve got that rovinґ notion I wouldna like tae loss
For Itґs my daily fare anґ as muchґll pay my doss.
I think Iґll gang tae Paddyґs Lanґ, Iґm makinґ up my mind
For Scotlandґs greatly altered noo, I canna raise the wind
But if I can trust in Providence, if Providence should prove true
Iґll sing yeґs aґ of Erinґs Isle when I come back to you.