Henry's Songbook

Adam Cameron

• Trad

Adam Cameron is my name, I'm second son to Boyndlie
My brother John, he heirs the land, and a soldier now you'll find me

Parting with my bonnie love, her hand in mine was locke'd
And for to drive dull care away I spoke as if I joke'd

It's farewell, Cameron, step abroad, though you say I'm your charmer
I've kept the best part to myself and I'll wed some brisk young farmer

Since you have kept the part from me for which I've long been searching
The fifes do play a merry tune and the drums beat loud for marching

So boldly I did step away to go on to Dumbarton
And I had on my Highland dress as lieutenant to the captain

A lad I had alang wi' me, 'twas her young brother Tammy
And ay, when he did smile on me reminded me o' Annie

Soon after this a letter came from Annie, as a token
It was to show and let me know that the bonds of love were broken

A letter from my brother came, with post haste it was carried
That gin I were a living man to come and see him married

While reading it, her brother came to ask me for a furlow
To go and see his sister wed he wished to leave tomorrow

And when I heard young Tammy's words within but I was weary
Who was to be my brother's wife but just my only dearie

I said, You may not go alone for it would sair offend me
But you must stay and drive the coach for me and Captain Finlay

So we drove on and further on, it's homeward bound you'll find me
And there I met my bonnie love aneath the braes o' Boyndlie

Could you love a sodger noo, could you lay doon ayont me
Could you forsake your newsweetheart, my dear love, and gang wi' me

I could love a sodger noo, and I'll lay doon ayont ye
There was ne'er than for a mother's son my love, and I'll do for ye

The darkest hoor o' any night, if you wed me, I'll tend you
Here's Captain Finlay will make us one and I will aye defend you

I laid my broadsword across our knees, we crossed our right hands over
And Captain Finlay has made us one, I'm husband now and lover

(as sung by Archie Fisher)

Susannes Folksong-Notizen

• [1976:] Gavin Greig collected several versions of this song - one from his principal informant, Bell Robertson of Pitsligo. It is much fuller than that offered in the Dean Christie collection. It is a point of dispute whether the location should be Boyndie in Banffshire or Boyndlie in Aberdeenshire, but Greig - and Miss Robertson - prefer Boyndie since there were no Camerons in Boyndlie at the time of the song's origin (mid 18th century). Archie obviously doesn't agree. Interestingly, one version in the Greig collection was sent to him by an old Banffshire exile, from Zion City, Illinois. Archie's version is a free collation from the two texts given in "Folk-Song of the North-East". (Arthur Argo, notes Archie Fisher, 'Will Ye Gang, Love')