Henry's Songbook

Her sisters look on as she bargains and deals
And beckons the lads wi' her eyes
They lift up their skirts and they turn on their heels
But it's hard for the lads to pass by

For it's easy to see though her beauty is faded
Her smile's still the sweetest of charms
And there's many's the vow that's been broken by now
For a night in an old beauty's arms

For she's drunk and she's down
She's brassy and bold
She's a broken-down whore
Wi' a heart o' gold

The hills o' the west lay their hands on her breast
While she smiles at the dark clouds above her
And every man knows the favours she shows
To fighters, losers and lovers

Some say they've watched as she's lain wi' the sea
And some say she's wed tae the river
But she'll ne'er be the bride o' the Kelvin or Clyde
While others hae kisses to give her

For she's drunk and she's down
She's brassy and bold
She's a broken-down whore
Wi' a heart o' gold

Her children play games wi' her old lovers' names
Chalked up on the tenement walls
And the new lover sighs as he looks in her eyes
For he knows that she still loves them all

Though they stripped her and used her, romanced and abused her
She's too old to change in her ways
And they smile as they're led from the warmth o' her bed
Singin', Glasgow I'll love you till the end of my days

[1991:] A song for the city where I learned to love traditional music; nobody could possibly be indifferent to it. (McNS33)