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Vic & Ben Lyrics

When wild war's deadly blast was blawn, and gentle peace returning
As the destructive fires of war were finally subsiding, and peace was beginning to settle in once again

With mony a sweet babe fatherless, and mony a widow mourning
But despite the return of peace, there were still the sad, tragic consequences of war - many children left without fathers, and many women grieving as widows

I left the lines and tented field, where lang I'd been a lodger
I left the battlefield where I'd spent countless days and nights in tents, my temporary home

My humble knapsack a' my wealth, a poor and honest sodger
All I had to my name was a simple knapsack, a true reflection of my modest means as a soldier

A leal light heart was in my breast, my hand unstain'd wi' plunder
Despite the situation I found myself in, my heart was pure, and I had never resorted to stealing or pillaging

And for fair Scotia hame again, I cheery on did wander
And so I set out with a hopeful spirit, eager to return to my beloved home of Scotland

I thought upon the banks o' Coil, I thought upon my Nancy
As I journeyed back, my mind couldn't help but go back to fond memories of my hometown, and thoughts of my sweetheart Nancy

I thought upon the witching smile, that caught my youthful fancy
I had never forgotten the enchanting smile that had first caught my eye when I was a youthful lad

At length I reached the bonnie glen, where early life I sported
Finally, after what seemed like forever, I arrived at the beautiful valley where I had spent my early years and had many happy memories

I passed the mill and trysting thorn, where Nancy aft I courted
As I walked along, I couldn't help but reminisce about the old mill and the thornbush where Nancy and I had spent so much time courting each other

Who spied I but my ain dear maid, down by her mother's dwelling
Imagine my surprise when I saw my own beloved Nancy, standing by her mother's house

And turned me round to hide the flood, that in my een was swelling
I turned away, trying to hide the tears that were welling up in my eyes from the emotions that this reunion had brought up

Wi' altered voice, quoth I, Sweet lass, sweet as hawthorn's blossom
Trying to mask my intense feelings, I spoke to her in a voice that was different than my usual one, telling her how sweet she looked, like a hawthorn in bloom

O happy, happy may he be, that's dearest to thy bosom
I expressed my sincerest hope that whomever was dearest to her heart (whether that was me or someone else) would be blessed with great happiness

My purse is light, I've far to gang, and fain would be thy lodger
I told her honestly that I didn't have much money, and that I had a long journey ahead of me, but that I would love nothing more than to stay with her as a guest

I've served my king and country lang, take pity on a sodger
In a bid to tug at Nancy's heartstrings, I told her how long and faithfully I had served my king and country, hoping to elicit some sympathy from her

Sae wistfully she gazed on me, and lovelier was than ever
Nancy looked at me with such a deep and wistful gaze, and she seemed more beautiful to me than ever before

Quote she, A sodger once I loved, forget him shall I never
To my utter surprise, Nancy revealed that she had already loved a soldier before me, and that she still hadn't forgotten him

Our humble cot, and hamely fare, ye freely shall partake it
But despite this revelation, Nancy kindly offered to welcome me into her humble home and share her simple food and shelter with me

That gallant badge, the dear cockade, ye're welcome for the sake o' it
And as a token of her appreciation for my service to my country, Nancy offered to let me stay and set down my hat, for the sake of the proud symbol of my military service that I wore on my lapel

She gazed, she reddened like a rose, syne pale like only lily
As we stood there, Nancy grew both red and then pale again, like a rose changing colors in the sun, or like a lily's delicate petals wilting

She sank within my arms, and cried, art thou my ain dear Willie
Her emotions got the best of her, and she collapsed into my arms, crying and asking if I was her own dear Willie

By him who made yon sun and sky, by whom true love's regarded
At that moment, I solemnly attested by the Creator of the universe Himself - the one who made the sun and sky - that I was indeed her dear Willie

I am the man; and thus may still, true lovers be rewarded
I asserted that it was indeed me standing there in the flesh, and prayed that true lovers like us would always be rewarded for their love and loyalty

The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame, and find thee still true-hearted
Finally, after all the war and strife, I had finally made it back home to find that Nancy was still as loyal and faithful to me as ever before

Though poor in gear, we're rich in love, and mair we'se ne'er be parted
True happiness lay not in wealth or possessions, but in the richness of our love for each other; and as long as we had that, neither poverty nor anything else could ever tear us apart

Quote she, My grandsire left me gowd, a mailen plenished fairly
And just to show how much she loved me, Nancy revealed that her grandfather had left her a fortune in gold and land, which she gladly offered to share with me

And come, my faithful sodger lad, thou art welcome to it dearly
Nancy invited me to come to her as her loyal soldier, telling me that I was welcome to everything she had with open arms

For gold the merchant ploughs the main, the farmer ploughs the manor
She then pondered how many people were willing to go through great trouble to gain wealth, either by crossing the dangerous seas like merchants, or by working hard on the land like farmers

But glory is the sodger's prize, the sodger's wealth is honor
But for us soldiers, true riches were something that couldn't be bought with gold - it was the honor and pride that we felt in serving our country and protecting those we loved

The brave poor sodger ne'er despise, nor count him as a stranger
Therefore, Nancy urged all who would listen to never look down on or ignore the brave, but poor soldier, and to always treat them with kindness and respect for the great sacrifices they had made for the sake of others