This is a traditional song of Scottish origin. The lyrics are a reworking of a poem titled "The Braes o' Balquhidder" by Robert Tannahill, first published in 1810 and originally set to a traditional tune called "The Three Carls o' Buchanan".[1] A recording of Tannahill's lyrics to the original tune can be heard here. At least one early publisher also set it to an unrelated tune also titled "The Braes o' Balquhider", first published in the 1740s, and several pre-1950s recordings use this tune.[2]
The modern version of the song was first recorded by Irish folk singer Francis McPeake in the 1950s, under the title "Will You Go, Lassie, Go". His lyrics are clearly derived from the Tannahill text, but the tune is unrelated to the "Braes o' Balquhidder" versions and may be original,[3] either to McPeake himself or to his family (in at least one interview, he claimed to have heard the song from his uncle).
Lyrics[]
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their album, Between Wind and Water.
Oh, the summer time has come
And the trees are sweetly blooming,
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows among the blooming heather
{Chorus}
Will you go, lassie, go?
And we'll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All among the blooming heather,
Will you go, lassie, go?
I will build my love a bower
Near yon pure crystal fountain.
And on it I will pile
All the flowers of the mountain.
{Chorus}
And if my true love he were gone,
I would surely find another
To pull wild mountain thyme
All among the blooming heather.
{Chorus 2x}
Recordings[]
Streaming/Purchase[]
YouTube Videos[]
Gig Videos[]
- Perranporth Shout (25 Apr 2018)
- The Three Tuns - Bristol (29 Nov 2018)
- Teign Shanty Festival, Teignmouth (28 Sep 2019)
- Junction, Cambridge (25 Mar 2024) (Lead: Nati Dredd)
- Engine Rooms, Southampton (4 Apr 2024) (Lead: Nati Dredd)
- Exeter Phoenix, Exeter (5 Apr 2024) (Lead: Nati Dredd)
- Bristol Beacon, Bristol (6 Apr 2024) (Lead: Nati Dredd)
- Bristol Beacon, Bristol (6 Apr 2024) (Lead: Nati Dredd)
- Bristol Beacon, Bristol (6 Apr 2024) (Lead: Nati Dredd)
Full Band Streams[]
- The Longest Johns, Album Launch gig/party (19 Jun 2018)
- Surviving the first month of 2019 with The Longest Johns!!! (New donation system) (30 Jan 2019)
- The Longest Johns and Friends, February Edition (New donation system) (27 Feb 2019)
- The Longest Johns Early Octobermas (2 Oct 2019)
- Spooktober Spectacular and Farewell to Anna Livestream (30 Oct 2019)
- TLJ & Friends | Natalie Holmes (27 Nov 2019)
- Last Stream Before Album Launch! (27 May 2020)
- (New Merch) I’m Goin’ Off the Rails on a Crazy Stream (14 Oct 2020)
- Be Stream And Not Heard (6 Oct 2021)
- Stream me up Scotty! (23 Aug 2022)
- Stream Girls (27 Apr 2023)
- It Was Christmas Stream Babe (20 Dec 2023)
- No Country For Old Streamers (24 Jul 2024)
Chill Streams[]
- Welcome to the Chilldome! Playing mostly folk music…. - 20/04/2020
- More chilled than a sack of penguins with Andy & JD - 27/04/2020
- Enter the Chilldome! Playing mostly folk music… - 05/06/2020
- Observe the Chilldome. Playing mostly folk music… - 17/07/2020
- Hold my herbal tea! I’m doing a music! - 04/09/2020
- It’s time for mostly folk music with Andy! - 6/11/2020
- It’s folk music time! New banjo! - 11/12/2020