Ca' the yowes to the knowes, Ca' them where the heather grows Ca' them where the burnie rows, My bonie dearie. yowes = ewes knowes = hills burnie = stream rows = flows Hark! the mavis' evening sang Sounding Cluden's woods amang, Then a-fauldin let us gang, My bonie dearie. mavis = thrush a-fauldin = driving sheep to the fold Ca' the yowes to the knowes, ... We'll gae down by Cluden side, Thro' the hazels spreading wide, O'er the waves that sweetly glide To the moon sae clearly. Ca' the yowes to the knowes, ... Yonder Cluden's silent towers, Where at moonshine midnight hours, O'er the dewy-bending flowers, Fairies dance sae cheery. Ca' the yowes to the knowes, ... Ghaist nor bogle shalt thou fear; Thou 'rt to love and Heaven sae dear, Nocht of ill may come thee near, My bonie dearie. Ca' the yowes to the knowes, ... Fair and lovely as thou art, Thou hast stown my very heart; I can die—but canna part, My bonie dearie. Ca' the yowes to the knowes, ...
recording: The Three Graces [YouTube]
source: Robert Burns setting of the text [Poetry Foundation]
background: song notes [Wikipedia]