Annie Laurie strathspey

Traditional Scottish Song, wich was originally written by her sweetheart, William Douglas, and amended by Lady John Scott (1810-1900) who altered the second verse and composed the third. This song was a favourite with Scottish soldiers during the Crimean War.


Annie Laurie

Maxwellton braes are bonnie,
Where early fa’s the dew,
And ‘twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true.
Gave me her promise true,
Which ne’er forgot will be,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I lay me doon and dee.

Her brow is like the snowdrift,
Her throat is like a swan,
Her face it is the fairest
That e’er the sun shone on.
That e’er the sun shone on,
And dark blue is her ee,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I lay me doon and dee.

Like dew on th’ gowan lying,
Is the fa’ o’ her fairy feet,
And like winds in summer sighing
Her voice is low and sweet.
Her voice is low and sweet,
And she’s a’ the world to me,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I lay me doon and dee.

This is a very slow air, and the rythm is quite free. It sounds nice stopping at the end of each phrase, exaggerating the silences.