Henry's Songbook

Chorus:
Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine
And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
Away we run from the exciseman
It's the smuggler's life for me
It's the smuggler's life for me

The boat rides off o' Ailsa Craig in the waning o' the light
There's thirty men in Lendalfoot tae mak' our burden bright
And there's thirty horse in Hazel Home wi' the halters on their heid
All set this night upon yon high if wind or water speed

Oh lads ye hae a cosy bed and cattle ye hae ten
Can ye no live a lawful life and live wi' lawful men
What must I live with homely goose while there's foreign gear sae fine
Must I drink at the waterside and France sae full of wine

And when at last the dawn comes up and the cargo's safely stored
Like sinless saints to church we'll go God's mercy to afford
And it's champagne fine for communion wine and the parson drinks it too
With a sly wink prays, Forgive these men for they know not what they do

(as sung by The McCalmans)

[1986:] [From his stay at Turnberry in 1775 Burns] recalled, describing the society of [the Ayrshire] coast of sailors and smugglers. 'The contraband trade was at that time very successful; scenes of swaggering riot and roaring dissipation were as yet new to me, and I was no enemy to social life.' (Grimble, Robert Burns 22)

[1997:] I could credit this to my name. I found it in an old book, 'Scottish Minstrelsy' [???], and added the tune and chorus, and the last verse. But it was easier crediting it to Trad. (Ian McCalman, pr. comm.)