THE BLEACHER LASSIE O' KELVIN HAUGH
Traditional

As I went out one summer's evening,
As I went out by the Broomielaw,
'Twas there I saw a charming creature
She had cheeks like roses and skin like snaw.

I said, Fair maid, where are you going?
Or what do you do by the Broomielaw?
Indeed kind sir, I will plainly tell you,
I'm a bleacher lassie on Kelvinhaugh

O lassie. lassie, do you remember
On the ships that sailed by the Broomielaw
And the sailor laddies that a' gaed a-courtin'
The bleacher lassies on Kelvinhaugh

O yes, O yes, I do remember
On the ships that sailed by the Broomielaw
And the sailor laddies that a' got tipsy
For the bleacher lassies on Kelvinhaugh

O lassie, lassie, would ye go wi' me,
And I will busk ye in fine satin braw?
Indeed, kind sir, I will plainly tell you
I've a lad o' my ain but he's far awa'

'Tis seven long years since he went and left me,
It's seven long years since he went awa'
But another seven I'll wait upon him
And bleach a while on sweet Kelvinhaugh

O Lassie, lassie, ye are hard-hearted,
I wish your fair face I never saw,
For my heart, my heart, it lies a-bleeding,
For the bleacher lassie on Kelvinhaugh

So they've gone down to yonder tavern,
And they've drunk whisky a glass or twa
And they've drunk whisky till they've got tipsy,
And there he's wiled her poor heart awa'

And now this couple they've got married,
And keep an ale-house atween them twa,
And the sailor laddies they a' go a-drinking
For the bleacher lassies on Kelvinhaugh

Footnote: In his classic collection of songs John Ord states "The Bleacher Lassie appears to have been originally a Glasgow street song, but became a favourite all over the country."  I have certainly seen a broadsheet from Dundee containing the first five verses -  the concluding two verses appear to have been added later, perhaps to give the song a happy ending