A report was made in the Saint John Telegraph newspaper describing the first soiree on October 14, 1873 in New Brunswick after the colonists arrived. The purpose of the gathering was to begin fundraising efforts for building churches in Kincardine and Kintore. Officials gave speeches and many songs were performed. Among the solos was “Bonnie Bessie Lee” by Mr. Duncan, sung in good style. Here are the verses followed by the sheet music.
Broadsides (one page flyers) were distributed back in Scotland which popularized the poem.
Bonnie Bessie Lee
Written by Robert Nicoll (1814–37)
BONNIE Bessie Lee had a face fu’ o’ smiles,
And mirth round her ripe lip was aye dancing slee;
And light was the footfa’, and winsome the wiles,
O’ the flower o’ the parochin—our ain Bessie Lee.
Wi’ the bairns she would rin, and the school laddies paik, 5
And o’er the broomy braes like a fairy would flee,
Till auld hearts grew young again wi’ love for her sake:
There was life in the blithe blink o’ Bonnie Bessie Lee.
She grat wi’ the waefu’, and laugh’d wi’ the glad,
And light as the wind ’mang the dancers was she; 10
And a tongue that could jeer, too, the little limmer had,
Whilk keepit aye her ain side for Bonnie Bessie Lee.
And she whiles had a sweetheart, and sometimes had twa—
A limmer o’ a lassie!—but, atween you and me,
Her warm wee bit heartie she ne’er threw awa’, 15
Though mony a ane had sought it frae Bonnie Bessie Lee.
But ten years had gane since I gaz’d on her last,
For ten years had parted my auld hame and me;
And I said to mysel’, as her mither’s door I past,
“Will I ever get anither kiss frae Bonnie Lee?” 20
But Time changes a’ thing—the ill-natur’d loon!
Were it ever sae rightly he ’ll no let it be;
But I rubbit at my een, and I thought I would swoon,
How the carle had come roun’ about our ain Bessie Lee!
The wee laughing lassie was a gudewife grown auld, 25
Twa weans at her apron and ane on her knee;
She was douce, too, and wiselike—and wisdom’s sae cauld:
I would rather ha’e the ither ane than this Bessie Lee!
