This track is an instrumental.

From all corners of the land our forces gathered
Arm in arm together there to fight
Comrades committed to the battle,
To stem the rising tide of fascist might

We had nurses, we had students and shipbuilders
The brave responded to the call
And rallied to the ‘tricolor de España’
Fighting for the future one and all

Chorus
I used to lie awake before the dawning
Thinking on the next day’s bloody fight
Then the brightness of the Spanish morning,
Check your gun, your bullets, and your bite

We had comrades from the East End of London
At Cable Street they’d ruined Moseley’s day
We had miners from the valleys of Carmarthen
All proud to wear La Quinta’s black beret

At dead of night their homes these heroes parted
And to Spain they quiet made their way
Leaving grieving wives and sweethearts
Ignoring all entreaties there to stay

Chorus

By train to Perpignan then onwards
We crossed the Pyrenees by night
Avoiding the soldiers at the border
(And) it’s on to Albecete at daylight

We battled at the Ebro and Jarama
We were baked by Brunete’s burning sun
Disbanded at the fall of Barcelona
La Passionaria praised us every one

Chorus

And now my life is nearly over
Oh, did my comrades fall in vain?
No – fascists must be challenged where they muster
In Bolton and Blackburn and Brick Lane

Chorus
Chorus

Nellie Torrence and Jeannie Waldie, looked o’er the stricken child
And a thought came to those nurses’ heads, on a night both wet and wild
That when the wee lad faded and his heart did beat no more
They’d sell his body to the medical men, as many had done before

Chorus

Fear did stalk the nation, the living and the dead
To play a part in the medicine show, many did live in dread
Many were the hardships in a world so full of strife
To live in fear, as your end drew near, of the cut of the surgeon’s knife

And so, the deal was struck, with a porter at the door,
Home contented they did ride, to watch the boy give o’er
And as they thought on money and things that it might buy
They watched in shock as the boy revived, clear that he would not die

Chorus

And cruel was the plan that came to those nurses then
They’d rob another wee lad o’ his life and render him instead
They poured Mrs Dallas a whisky, and then they poured some more
While Jeannie took her wee Johnnie home, and smothered him on the floor

Chorus

For a pittance they sold young Johnnie, to lie on a surgeon’s stall
While his mother awoke from a drunken sleep, and rose with a mournful call
“Oh where’s my darling Johnnie, the apple of my eye?
Oh, where’s my darlin’ wee Johnnie lad?” and the crowd searched low and high.

Chorus

In the quiet of the theatre, where the surgeons’ knives cut clear
News came through of the missing boy and the nurses’ crime was clear
And panic it spread amongst them and, though with sutures lined,
They stitched young Johnnie and laid him to rest, in the shadows of Liberton’s Wynd

Chorus

And soon were those nurses taken, and soon those nurses tried,
And soon it was those nurses were hanged, to pay for the boy that died
And in a short while after, where Johnnie had gone before,
Nellie Torrence and Jeannie Waldie ..........they met the medical men once more!

Chorus
Chorus

When the last rose of summer pricks my finger

And the hot sun chills me to the bone

When I can’t hear the song from the singer

And I can’t tell my pillow from a stone

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

And when the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain

And the stars start to splutter in the sky

When the moon splits the north west horizon

With the scream of an eagle on the fly

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And listen to the ripples as they moan

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

Black muddy river, roll on forever

I don’t care how deep or wide

If you’ve got another side

Black muddy river, black muddy river,

Black muddy river roll

And when it seems like the night will last forever

And there’s nothing left to do but count the years

When the strings of my heart begin to sever

And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And dream me a dream of my own

I will walk alone by the black muddy river

And sing me a song of my own

Well I married me a wife,

Gave me trouble all my life,

Threw me out in the cold rain and snow,

Rain and snow

Rain and snow

Threw me out in the cold rain and snow,

I seen her comin’ on down the stair

Combin’ back her long black hair

And her cheeks were as red as a rose,

As a rose

As a rose

Her cheeks were as red as a rose

Well I ain’t got no use

For no red apple juice,

And I’m not gonna be treated that way

That way

That way

And I’m not gonna be treated that way

I saw her sittin’ in the shade,

Countin’ every damn dime I made

And I’m tired and I’m hungry too

Hungry too

Hungry too

And I’m tired and I’m hungry too

Well I married me a wife,

Gave me trouble all my life,

Threw me out in the cold rain and snow,

Rain and snow

Rain and snow

Threw me out in the cold rain and snow.

Why weep ye by the tide lady?

Why weep ye by the tide?

I’ll wed ye tae my youngest son, and ye shall be his bride

And ye shall be his bride lady, sae comely tae be seen

But aye she’s loot the tears doonfa’ for Jock O’ Hazeldean

Noo let this wilfu’ grief be done

And dry those cheeks sae pale,

Young Frank is chief of Errington, and Laird o’Langley Dale

His step is first in peaceful hall, his sword in battle keen

But aye she’s loot the tears doonfa’ for Jock O’ Hazeldean

A coat o’ gowd she shall nae lack,

Nor caim tae bind your hair,

Nor mettled gown nor managed hawk, nor palfrey fresh and fair.

And you, the fairest o’ them all, shall ride our forest queen,

But aye she’s loot the tears doonfa’ for Jock O’ Hazeldean

The kirk was decked at morningtide,

The tapers glimmered fair,

The priest and bridegroom wait the bride,

and dame and knight were there,

They searched for her in bower and hall, the lady was nae seen,

She’s ower the border and awa’, wi’ Jock O’Hazeldean.