Sandy O'er The Lea
I winna marry ony man but Sandy o’er the lee,
I winna marry ony man but Sandy o’er the lee,
I winna hae the dominie for gude he canna be,
But I will hae my Sandy lad, my Sandy o’er the lee.
For he’s aye a kissing, kissing, aye a kissing me,
He’s aye a kissing, kissing, aye a kissing me.
I will not have the minister for all his godly looks,
Not yet will I the lawyer have, for all his wily crooks.
I will not have the plowman lad, nor yet will I the miller,
But I will have my Sandy lad, without one penny siller.
For he’s aye a kissing, kissing etc.
I will not have the soldier lad for he gangs to the war,
I will not have the sailor lad because he smells of tar.
I will not have the lord nor laird for all their mickle gear,
But I will have my Sandy lad, my Sandy o’er the moor.
For he’s aye a kissing, kissing etc.
William Stenhouse says
“This song, beginning ‘I winna marry ony man, but Sandie o’er the lee,’ is an Anglo-Scottish production.
In 1776, Mr James Hook adapted the words to a new air composed by himself,
which was published in 1777,
in a collection of songs, sung at Vauxhall Gardens …”
Stenhouse continues
“The Scots, however, have a pretty old song under the same title,
and the words are nearly similar to those which Mr Hook had recourse to when he composed his air.”
There is also a tune called “Sandie o’er the Lee, or Mr Baird’s Favourite Reel”
in Niel Gow’s
A Second Collection of Strathspey Reels
of 1788.
James Hook (1746–1827) was organist at Vauxhall Gardens in Londen for forty-five years
and was the composer of more than 2,000 popular songs.
From “Scotland Dances”, by Eugenia (Jeannie) Callander Sharp
(Used by permission.)