Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Smugglers

Smugglers

Smugglers

Cho: Smugglers drink of the Frenchman's wine
     And the darkest night is the smuggler's time
     Away we run from the exciseman
     It's the smuggler's life for me
     It's the smuggler's life for me

 The boat rides off frae Ailsa Craig in the waning o' the light
 There's thirty men in Lendalfoot tae mak' our burden bright
 And there's thirty horse in Hazel Home, either ha' turns on her e'e
 Or sit this night upon yon high if wind or waters be

 And when at last the dawn comes up and the cargo's safely stored
 Like sinless saints to church we'll go God's mercy to afford
 It's champagne fine for communion wine, and the parson drinks it too
 With a sly wink prays, Forgive these men, they know not what they do

 Oh lads ye hae a cosy bed, and cattle ye hae ten
 Can ye no live a lawful life and live like lawful men
 What must I live with homely food when there's foreign gear so fine
 Must I drink at the waterside and France sae full of wine

 Ian McCalman found this in an old book - could have been called 'Scottish
 Minstrelsy', I'll have to ask him again - and added the chorus and tune.
SKW
oct99