Jamie Raeburn from The Ledger by Gillian Frame & Findlay Napier with Mike Vass

My name is jamie Raeburn, frae Glasgow toon I came
My place and habitation I’m forced to leave wi shame
Frae my place and habitation I noo maun gang awa’
Far frae the bonnie hills an dales of Caledonia

It was early in the morning just at the break o day
The turnkey cam to wake us, and unto us did say
“Arise, ye hapless convicts, arise ye ane and a’,
This is the day you are to stray from Caledonia.”

We all arose, put on our clothes, our hairts were fu o grief
Our friends, who stood around the coach, could grant us no relief
Our parents, wives, and sweethairts, their hairts were broke in twa
Tae see us leave the bonnie braes of Caledonia

Fareweel my aged mither, don’t grieve for what I’ve done
Let nane o’ them cast up to you the race that I hae run
May providence protect you, when I am far awa,
Far, far, frae all the hills and dales of Caledonia

Fareweel my honest faither, for ye’re the best o’ men
Likewise my ain dear sweetheart, it’s Catherine is her name
Nae mair we’ll walk by Clyde’s clear stream or by the Broomielaw
For I muan leave the hills and dales of Caledonia

• Folk
• scottish
• traditional
• Glasgow