William Topaz McGonagall

Beautiful Monikie! with your trees and shrubberies green And your beautiful walks, most charming to be seen: 'Tis a beautiful place for pleasure-seekers to resort, Because there they can have innocent sport, taking a leisure walk all round about, And see the ang1ers fishing in the pand for trout.

Besides, there's lovely white swans swimming on the pond, And Panmure Monument can be seen a little distance beyond; And the scenery all round is enchanting I declare, While sweet-scented fragrance fills the air.

Then away, pleasure-seekers of bonnie Dundee, And have a day's outing around Monikie, And inhale the pure air, on a fine summer day, Which will help to drive dull care away; As ye gaze on the beautiful scenery there, Your spirits will feel o'erjoyed and free frozen care.

Then near to the pond there's a beautiful green sward, Where excursionists can dance until fatigue does them retard; And if they feel thirsty, the Monikie water's near by, Where they can quench their thirst if very dry.

Then, after that, they can have a walk at their ease, Amongst the green shrubbery and tall pine trees; And in the centre of the pand they can see Three beautiful little islets dressed in green livery.

Monikie is as bonnie a place as ye could wish to see, And about eleven or twelve miles from bonnie Dundee; It's the only place I know of to enjoy a holiday, Because there's a hall of shelter there to keep the rain away.

Then there's a large park, a very suitable place, For the old and the young, if they wish to try a race; It's there they can enjoy themselves during the live-long summmer day, Near to the little purling burn, meandering on its way, And emptying itself into the pond of Monikie, Which supplies the people with water belonging to Dundee.

Ancient Castle of Broughty Ferry With walls as strong as Londonderry; Near by the sea-shore, Where oft is heard and has been heard the cannon's roar In the present day and days of yore, Loudly echoing from shore to shore.

From your impregnable ramparts high Like the loud thunder in the sky Enough to frighten a foreign foe away That would dare to come up the river Tay, To lay siege to Bonnie Dundee, I'm sure your cannon-balls wouId make them flee--

Home again to their own land Because your cannon shot they could not withstand, They would soon be glad to get away From the beautiful shores of the silvery Tay.

Ancient Castle, near by Tayside, The soldiers ought to feel happy that in you reside, Because from the top they can have a view of Fife, Which ought to drown their sorrow and give them fresh life, And make their spirits feel light and gay As they view the beautiful scenery of the silvery Tay.

The village of Broughty Ferry is most beautiful to see, With its stately mansions and productive fishery, Which is a great boon to the villagers and the people of Dundee, And ought to make them thankful, and unto God to pray For creating plenty of fish for them in the beautiful Tay.

And the city of Dundee seems beautiful to the eye With her mill stacks and Old Steeple so high, Which can be seen on a clear summer day From the top of Broughty Castle near the mouth of Tay.

Then there's beautiful Reres Hill, Where the people can ramble at their will Amongst its beautiful shrubberies and trees so green Which in the summer season is most charming to be seen, And ought to drive dull care away, Because the people can see every clear day From the top the ships sailing on the silvery Tay.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay! With your numerous arches and pillars in so grand array And your central girders, which seem to the eye To be almost towering to the sky. The greatest wonder of the day, And a great beautification to the River Tay, Most beautiful to be seen, Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay! That has caused the Emperor of Brazil to leave His home far away, incognito in his dress, And view thee ere he passed along en route to Inverness.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay! The longest of the present day That has ever crossed o'er a tidal river stream, Most gigantic to be seen, Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay! Which will cause great rejoicing on the opening day And hundreds of people will come from far away, Also the Queen, most gorgeous to be seen, Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay! And prosperity to Provost Cox, who has given Thirty thousand pounds and upwards away In helping to erect the Bridge of the Tay, Most handsome to be seen, Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay! I hope that God will protect all passengers By night and by day, And that no accident will befall them while crossing The Bridge of the Silvery Tay, For that would be most awful to be seen Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay! And prosperity to Messrs Bouche and Grothe, The famous engineers of the present day, Who have succeeded in erecting the Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay, Which stands unequalled to be seen Near by Dundee and the Magdalen Green.

In one of fhe States of America, some years ago, There suddenly came on a violent storm of snow, Which was nearly the death of a party of workmen, Who had finished their day's work - nine or ten of them.

The distance was nearly twenty miles to their camp, And with the thick falling snow their clothes felt damp, As they set out for their camp, which was in a large grove, And to reach it, manfully against the storm they strove.

The wind blew very hard, and the snow was falling fast, Still, they plodded on, but felt a little downcast, And the snow fell so fast they could scarcely see, And they began to think they were lost on the wild prairie.

And they suddenly noticed marks of footsteps in the snow, Which they found were their own tracks, as onward they did go, Then they knew they were lost on the great prairie, And what could they do in such a fearful extremity?

Then their hearts began to sink with woe, In dread of having to pass the night in the snow, And they cried, "Oh, God help us to find our way, Or else we are lost on the lonely prairie."

And while they stood shivering with the cold, One of the party a particular horse did behold, Which was known by the name of Old Jack, So to take off his bridle they were not slack.

When the horse was let free he threw up his head and tail, Which seemed to say, "Follow ms, and ye will not fail. So come on, boys, and follow me, And I'll guide ye home safely."

And they cried, " Old Jack can show us the way, So let's follow his tracks without dismay"; And with the falling snow they were chilled to the bone, But the horse seemed to say, "I'll show ye home."

And at last they gave a shout of delight When they saw their camp fire burning bright, Which was to them a cheerful sight, And they caressed Old Jack for guiding them home that night.

And they felt thankful to God for their safety, And they danced around Old Jack with their hearts full of glee, And Old Jack became a favourite from that day, Because he saved them from being lost on the wild prairie.

This Statue, I must confess, is magnificent to see, And I hope will long be appreciated by the people of Dundee; It has been beautifully made by Sir John Steell, And I hope the pangs of hunger he will never feel.

This statue is most elegant in its design, And I hope will defy all weathers for a very long time; And I hope strangers from afar with admiration will stare On this beautiful statue of thee, Immortal Bard of Ayr.

Fellow-citizens, this Statue seems most beautiful to the eye, Which would cause Kings and Queens for such a one to sigh, And make them feel envious while passing by In fear of not getting such a beautiful Statue after they die.

The mountains and glens of Aberfoyle are beautiful to sight, Likewise the rivers and lakes are sparkling and bright; And its woods were frequented by the Lady of the Lake, And on its Lakes many a sail in her boat she did take.

The scenery there will fill the tourist with joy, Because 'tis there once lived the bold Rob Roy, Who spent many happy days with his Helen there, By chasing the deer in the woods so fair.

The little vale of Aberfoyle and its beautiful river Is a sight, once seen, forget it you'll never; And romantic ranges of rock on either side Form a magnificent background far and wide.

And the numerous lochs there abound with trout Which can be had for the taking out, Especially from the Lochs Chon and Ard, There the angler can make a catch which will his toil reward.

And between the two lochs the Glasgow Water Works are near, Which convey water of Loch Katrine in copious streams clear To the inhabitants of the Great Metropolis of the West, And for such pure water they should think themselves blest.

The oak and birch woods there are beautiful to view, Also the Ochil hills which are blue in hue, Likewise the Lake of Menteith can be seen far eastward, Also Stirling Castle, which long ago the English beseiged very hard.

Then away to Aberfoyle, Rob Roy's country, And gaze on the magnificent scenery. A region of rivers and mountains towering majestically Which is lovely and fascinating to see.

But no words can describe the beautiful scenery. Aberfoyle must be visited in order to see, So that the mind may apprehend its beauties around, Which will charm the hearts of the visitors I'll be bound.

As for the clachan of aberfoyle, little remains but a hotel, Which for accomodation which will suit the traveller very well. And the bedding thereis clean and good, And good cooks there to cook the food.

Then away to the mountains and lakes of bonnie Aberfoyle, Ye hard-working sons and daughters of daily toil; And traverse its heathery mountains and viewits lakes so clear, When the face of Nature's green in the spring of the year.

Beautiful silvery Tay, With your landscapes, so lovely and gay, Along each side of your waters, to Perth all the way; No other river in the world has got scenery more fine, Only I am told the beautiful Rhine, Near to Wormit Bay, it seems very fine, Where the Railway Bridge is towering above its waters sublime, And the beautiful ship Mars, With her Juvenile Tare, Both lively and gay, Does carelessly lie By night and by day, In the beautiful Bay Of the silvery Tay. Beautiful, beautiful silvery Tay, Thy scenery is enchanting on a fine summer day, Near by Balnerino it is beautiful to behold, When the trees are in full bloom and the cornfields seems like gold - And nature's face seems gay, And the lambkins they do play, And the humming bee is on the wing, It is enough to make one sing, While they carelessly do stray, Along the beautiful banks of the silvery Tay, Beautiful silvery Tay, Rolling smoothly on your way, Near by Newport, as clear as the day, Thy scenery around is charming I'll be bound... And would make the heart of any one feel light and gay on a fine summer day, To view the beautiful scenery along the banks of the silvery Tay.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou seemest most charming to my sight; As I gaze upon thee in the sky so high, A tear of joy does moisten mine eye.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the Esquimau in the night; For thou lettest him see to harpoon the fish, And with them he makes a dainty dish.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the fox in the night, And lettest him see to steal the grey goose away Out of the farm-yard from a stack of hay.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the farmer in the night, and makes his heart beat high with delight As he views his crops by the light in the night.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the eagle in the night, And lettest him see to devour his prey And carry it to his nest away.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the mariner in the night As he paces the deck alone, Thinking of his dear friends at home.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the weary traveller in the night; For thou lightest up the wayside around To him when he is homeward bound.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the lovers in the night As they walk through the shady groves alone, Making love to each other before they go home.

Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light, Thou cheerest the poacher in the night; For thou lettest him see to set his snares To catch the rabbit and the hares.