Lyrics

Last year at Lady Mary’s Fair when I was in Dundee
I fell in with an old sweetheart, he being on the spree.
His company I did accept and with him I did go,
All to my sad misfortune, it proved my overthrow.

We wandered east, we wandered west, we wandered roon’ the Law,
He said he’d see me home that night, but home I never saw.
He kept beside me all the way, resolved to have his will,
And by and by we lost oor way at the back o’ Reres Hill.

And when we got to Reres Hill my lad he said to me,
“You can’t go home tonight, my dear, it’s far o’er late, you see.
But the night is warm and in my pooch I have another gill.
So let us lie doon here content at the back o’ Reres Hill.”

So we had another nip apiece, to quiet oor alarm
When we awoke in the morning we were rowed in each other’s arms.
He handed me the bottle, another glass to fill,
And I drank his health and store o’ wealth at the back o’ Reres Hill.

And then my lad he said tae me, “Lassie dinnae mourn
For while I draw the breath o’ life from you I will not turn.
And if you come tae yonder toon my wedded wife to be
We’ll be happiest couple yet was ever in Dundee.”

So may I never prosper, may I never thrive
In anything I take in hand as lang as I’m alive.
If I should say I rue the day my laddie had his will
Success tae Lady Mary’s Fair and the back o’ Reres Hill.