Annotation:Star of Strathmore
STAR OF STRATHMORE, THE. Scottish, Air. The the music may be a composition of James 'Jamie' Allan of Forfar (1800-1877), however, the words are by Alexander Laing of Brechin, and is sometimes called "The Banks o' the Gairie" (and often sung to the airs "Bonnie Jean" or "Caledonia")[1]. The words begin:
On the bonnie banks of Gairie there is a bleaching-green,
And lovely are the lassies there that bleach their linens clean;
They kilt their coats, as merrily they tramp the washing skeel,
And sing like any mavis, nor care nor sorrow feel.
On the winding banks of Gairie the roses gaily spring,
And 'mang the spreading bushes there the birdies saftly sing;
But tho' the rose be fair to see, the birdie sweet to hear,
They lose the power o' pleasin' when Peggy she is near.
- ↑ Alan Reid, The Regality of Kirriemuir, Edinburgh, 1909, pp. 209-210