For We're No Awa' Tae Bide Awa'

Chorus:
For we're no' awa' tae bide awa',
   For we're no' awa tae le'e ye,
For we're no' awa' tae bide awa',
   We'll aye come back an' see ye.

1. As I gaed doon by Wilsontoon
   I met auld Johnnie Scobbie,
Says I to him will ye hae a hauf,
   Says he, "Man! That's my hobby."

Chorus

2. So we had a hauf an' anither hauf,
   And then we had anither,
When he got fou' he shouted "Hoo!
   It's Carnwath Mill for ever."

Chorus

3. We wandered doon the street again
   We cleekit unco cheery,
When John got hame his wife cried shame,
   I see you're enjoyin' your hobby.

Chorus

4. Of a' the friens that ere I kenned,
   There's nane like Johnnie Scobbie,
His hert is leal, he's true as steel,
   An' a hauf is aye his hobby.

Chorus

5. So whenever friendly friens may meet,
   Wherever Scots foregather,
We'll raise our gless, we'll shout Hurroo,
   It's Carnwath Mill for ever.

Chorus


Originally a drinking song, this is the archetypal Scottish "farewell" song, played by pipers on the quayside when many a ship has left port. Popular tune for a finale, alternative to Auld Lang Syne.  There are a number of variations of the words - though most people only know the chorus, shown here.  Roughly translated, the title means, "We're parting, but we don't have to stay apart."

Meaning of unusual words:
aye = always
cleekit = walk arm in arm
fou' = drunk
gaed = went
hauf = a measure of alcohol
kenned = knew
leal = loyal
tae bide awa' = to stay away
unco = extremely

http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_bide.htm