High Germany

Woe be to the orders that took my love away

And woe be to the cruel cause that bid my tears to fall

Woe be to the bloody wars of high Germany

They have taken my love and left a broken heart to me

The drum beat in the morning before the break of day

And the small wee fife played loud and clear while yet the morn was gray

And I the bonny flag unfurled, 'twas a gallant sight to see

Woe to me, my soldier lad was marched to Germany

Long, long is the traveling to the bonny pier of Leith

And bleak it was to gang there with a snowstorm in your teeth

And aye, the wind blew sharp and strong, and a tear rose in my eyne

I gang there to see my love embark for Germany

As I gazed over the cruel, cruel sea for as long as could be seen

The wee small sails upon the ship my own true love was in

And aye, the wind blew sharp and strong, and the ship sailed speedily

Cruel the raging wars have torn my bonny boy from me

Woe be to the orders that took my love away

And woe be to the cruel cause that bid my tears to fall

Woe be to the bloody wars of high Germany

They have taken my love and left a broken heart to me

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