Poetry Corner

Sitting here as I am in Rothesay looking out over the River Clyde a wee song about the River seemed appropriate.

Sunrise Rothesay Bay 07.10am 23rd Sept 18

The Song of The Clyde

I’ll sing of a river I’m happy beside
The song that I sing is a song of the Clyde
Of all Scottish rivers it’s dearest to me
It flows from Leadhills all the way to the sea
It borders the orchards of Lanark so fair
Meanders through meadows with sheep grazing there
But from Glasgow to Greenock, in towns on each side
The hammers’ “ding-dong” is the song of the Clyde

Oh the River Clyde, the wonderful Clyde
The name of it thrills me and fills me with pride
And I’m satisfied whate’er may betide
The sweetest of songs is the song of the Clyde 

Imagine we’ve left Craigendoran behind
And wind-happy yachts by Kilcreggan we find
At Kirn and Dunoon and Innellan we stay
Then Scotland’s Madeira that’s Rothesay, they say
Or maybe by Fairlie or Largs we will go
Or over to Millport that thrills people so
Mavbe journey to Arran it can’t be denied 
Those scenes all belong to the song of the Clyde 

Oh the River Clyde, the wonderful Clyde
The name of it thrills me and fills me with pride
And I’m satisfied whate’er may betide
The sweetest of songs is the song of the Clyde 

There’s Paw an’ Maw doon at the Broomielaw 
They’re goin’ “doon the water” for “The Fair” 
There’s Bob an’ Mary on the Govan Ferry 
Wishin’ jet propulsion could be there
There’s steamers cruisin’ and there’s “buddies” snoozin’ 
And there’s laddies fishin’ frae the pier
An’ Paw’s perspirin’ very near expirin’
As he rows a boat frae there to here
With eyes a-flashin’, it is voted “smashin” 
To be walkin’ daily on the prom
And May and Ev’lyn are in seventh heaven 
As thy stroll along with Dick and Tom 
And Dumbarton Rock to ev’ry Jean and Jock
Extends a welcome that is high and wide
Seems to know that they are on their homeward way 
To hear the song of the Clyde

Oh the River Clyde, the wonderful Clyde
The name of it thrills me and fills me with pride
And I’m satisfied whate’er may betide
The sweetest of songs is the song of the Clyde 

The sweetest of songs is the song of the Clyde

Written by R.Y. Bell and Ian Gourley. The lyrics were written by Fraser Bruce.

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1 reply »

  1. Beautiful…I can see myself sitting on the bank surrounded by colour and sound…and motion…Richard Wallace

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