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Guitar: The Bonnie Wells O' Wearie (Including lyrics and chords)

1,561 views · Published 14 February 2013 · 6:48 · Indexed 3 October 2026

Channel: threelegsoman · 2013 · Education

I have just got my PC back after repair and so am able to upload this video which I recorded a couple of weeks ago and saved on the PC. I cannot remember who asked me to look at this lovely song, but thank them as it is new to me. I listened to Kenneth McKeller singing it, a man I remember watching and listening to as a youth when we watched The White Heather Club on black and white TV in the early 1960s.
The Wells O' Wearie is an area in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh and was used by washerwomen to clean and dry their clothes (where bonnie lassies bleach their claes......)
The Bonnie Wells O' Wearie have inspired many poems and songs, this one being written by A Maclagan and J. C. Grieve.
The "Lily o' St. Leonards" and the "Laird o' Dumbiedikes" are characters in Scott's "Heart of Midlothian". Gowans are daisies.
For some reason (probably the onset of dementia!!) I sang the first chorus using a wrong word. I was singing 'bells' instead of 'wells'. Hope you can forgive this slip up.

The Bonnie Wells O' Wearie
A Maclagan and J. C. Grieve
Capo at 4th fret, so, I am really playing and singing in the key of B

G C G Am D7
Come let us climb old Arthur Seat, when summer flow'rs are blooming;
G C G D7 G
When golden broom and heather bells are a' the air perfu - ming.
C G D7 C D7
When sweet May gowans deck the braes, the oors flee past fu' cheerie,
G C G D7 Am C D7 G
Where bonnie lassies bleach their claes beside the Wells o' Wearie!

G C G A7 D
The bonnie Wells o' Wearie! The bonnie Wells o' Wearie!
G C G Am C D7 G
Come let us spend a summer day beside the Wells o' Wearie!

G C G Am D7
The "Lily o' St. Leonards" there oft spent a sweet May morning,
G C G D7 G
Wi' gowans gay and sweet blue-bells her golden locks adorning.
C G D7 C D7
And there the "Laird o' Dumbiedikes" aft gaed to woo his dearie,
G C G D7 Am C D7 G
And watch his fleecy flocks wi' care, beside the Wells o' Wearie!

G C G Am D7
There Scotland's Queen in stormy times forgot her saddest story;
G C G D7 G
There brave Prince Chairlie led his clans to deeds o' martial glo-ry.
C G D7 C D7
When Johnnie Cope, wi' a' his men were scatter'd tapselteerie,
G C G D7 Am C D7 G
There Scotland's banner proudly waved beside the Wells o' Wearie!

G C G Am D7
Then let us hail auld Arthur Seat: like Scotland's rampant lion,
G C G D7 G
It tow'rs, a wonder o' the world, the wildest storms defy - in'.
C G D7 C D7
Wi' dauntless front 'neath summer skies, or wintry blasts sae dreary,
G C G D7 Am C D7 G
It stands in peace or war to guard the bonnie Wells o' Wearie!

G C G Am D7
O lang may bonnie lassies fair wi' Nature's charms around them,
G C G D7 G
Still bleach their claes on flow'ry braes, wi' nae sad cares to wound them!
C G D7 C D7
Lang may her sons 'mid fairy scenes, wi' hearts richt leal and cheerie,
G C G D7 Am C D7 G
Still meet to sing their patriot sangs beside the Wells o' Wearie!

Guitar: The Bonnie Wells O' Wearie (Including lyrics and chords)

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