The west winds blow to Coshieville
And with the winds came we
And where the river leaves the wood
And blackthorns flower in May
There stood a single rowan tree
So young and slender, then were you
I loved you both as there you grew
The day I took the road that leads by Rannoch to the sea.
I carved our names at Coshieville
The rowan tree stood still
But the darkening West was in your eyes,
Despite your kisses and my lies
My thoughts had crossed the hill,
I broke your heart as the minutes passed
I smiled and said that nothing lasts
But many's the backward glance I cast
As I went North to the drill
The big wheels rumble up and down,
The lorries know the way,
I raised my hand, I hitched a ride
I crossed the bridge to Rannochside
Where the diesel motors play,
I set myself to a cliff of stone
My ear to the boring-hammers drone
And the ache inside I bore alone
Cause you were far away
But the money oved from Ericht's loch and the Great Glen beckoned on
At Moriston the hills grew pale
And we fought and drank through Kintail
Till our money soon was gone
Then I cursed Loch Awe side's autumn rain,
The winter whisky in Dunblane,
Till the west wind rose in the spring again
And my heart leapt to its song.
I came at night to Coshieville
In a dozen hills of flame.
You had another hand to hold
Beneath the names I carved of old
There was another name.
You looked me through, never made a sign
I drank the cup of bitter wine,
For well we knew the fault was mine
And I went the way I came.
And with the winds came we
And where the river leaves the wood
And blackthorns flower in May
There stood a single rowan tree
So young and slender, then were you
I loved you both as there you grew
The day I took the road that leads by Rannoch to the sea.
I carved our names at Coshieville
The rowan tree stood still
But the darkening West was in your eyes,
Despite your kisses and my lies
My thoughts had crossed the hill,
I broke your heart as the minutes passed
I smiled and said that nothing lasts
But many's the backward glance I cast
As I went North to the drill
The big wheels rumble up and down,
The lorries know the way,
I raised my hand, I hitched a ride
I crossed the bridge to Rannochside
Where the diesel motors play,
I set myself to a cliff of stone
My ear to the boring-hammers drone
And the ache inside I bore alone
Cause you were far away
But the money oved from Ericht's loch and the Great Glen beckoned on
At Moriston the hills grew pale
And we fought and drank through Kintail
Till our money soon was gone
Then I cursed Loch Awe side's autumn rain,
The winter whisky in Dunblane,
Till the west wind rose in the spring again
And my heart leapt to its song.
I came at night to Coshieville
In a dozen hills of flame.
You had another hand to hold
Beneath the names I carved of old
There was another name.
You looked me through, never made a sign
I drank the cup of bitter wine,
For well we knew the fault was mine
And I went the way I came.