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Collier Laddie 
Collier Laddie 
I've traveled east and I've traveled west And I've traveled pure Kirkaldy, But the bonniest lass that e'er I spied She was followin' her collier laddie. 
cho: Laddie, O, laddie But the bonniest lass that e'er I spied She was followin' her collier laddie. 
(final 2 lines of chorus change with verse.) 
"O whaur live ye my bonnie lass? Come tell me what they ca' ye. " "Bonnie Jean Gordon is my name, And I'm followin' a collier laddie." 
cho: 
"O would ye fancy ane that's black And you sae fair and gaudy? O fancy ane o' higher degree, Than followin' a collier laddie." 
cho: 
"Ye see yon hills the sun shines on, The sun shines on sae gaudy ; They a' are mine and they shall be thine, Gin ye'll leave your collier laddie. " 
cho: 
"Though ye had a' the sun shines on, And the earth conceals sae lowly, l wad turn my back on you and it a' And follow my collier laddie." 
cho: Then he has gane to her faither dear, To her faither gane sae brawly ; Says: "Will ye gie me your bonnie, bonnie lass That's followin' a collier laddie?" 
cho: 
"O would she marry a man that's black, And me sea braw and gaudy? I'll raise her up to a higher degree Than followin' a collier laddie." 
cho: 
Her faither then he vowed and swore: "Though he be black he's bonnie; She's mair delight in him, I fear, Than in you wi' a' your money." 
cho: "O, I can win my five pennies a day, And spend't at nicht fu' brawly, And I'll mak' my bed in the collier's neuk And lie doon wi' my collier laddie." 
cho: 
"Love for love is the bargain for me, Though the wee cot-hoose should haud me, And the world before me to win my breid, And fare for my collier laddie." 
cho: 
From Songs and Dances of Scotland, Thomson Note: this, plus the first version ( COLLAD ), go together to make a fairly complete picture.