When Mally Leigh came down the street, a wind blew mightily
And flew the hat and cloak and all from bonny Mally Leigh
And down along the Canongate were lads of all degree
Who sighed to see the comely shape of bonny Mally Leigh
Chorus
And we're all gone East and West, we're all gone, aye, ajee
We're all gone East and West, a-courting Mally Leigh
She wore two ribbons in her hair that flaunted gallantly
And ribbons at the back and breast of bonny Mally Leigh
And with every bob her ribbons made, each lad thought, That's for me
But ne'er a one was in the thoughts of bonny Mally Leigh
And when she reached the palace porch, there stood lairdies three
And each one turned him round about to glance on Mally Leigh
The dance went through the palace hall, a comely sight to see
And none was there so bright and fair as bonny Mally Leigh
The Prince came out from among them all with garters at his knee
And danced a stately minuet with bonny Mally Leigh
Though some wore jewels in their hair that shown so brilliantly
Yet, Mallie did surpass them all with a red and rosie cheek
But Hieland Brodie floored them all with a proud and glancing eye
He's won for aye the heart and hand of bonny Mally Leigh
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In his collection, Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland (Glasgow, 1904), Robert Ford connects this song to Mrs. Mally Sleigh, who in 1725 was married to Lord Lyon Brodie. She was a celebrated Scottish beauty, and is depicted here strolling down an Edinburgh street. To go ajee means to lose one's bearing, or go off to one side, a reference to the state of confusion produced by this lady's charms.
And flew the hat and cloak and all from bonny Mally Leigh
And down along the Canongate were lads of all degree
Who sighed to see the comely shape of bonny Mally Leigh
Chorus
And we're all gone East and West, we're all gone, aye, ajee
We're all gone East and West, a-courting Mally Leigh
She wore two ribbons in her hair that flaunted gallantly
And ribbons at the back and breast of bonny Mally Leigh
And with every bob her ribbons made, each lad thought, That's for me
But ne'er a one was in the thoughts of bonny Mally Leigh
And when she reached the palace porch, there stood lairdies three
And each one turned him round about to glance on Mally Leigh
The dance went through the palace hall, a comely sight to see
And none was there so bright and fair as bonny Mally Leigh
The Prince came out from among them all with garters at his knee
And danced a stately minuet with bonny Mally Leigh
Though some wore jewels in their hair that shown so brilliantly
Yet, Mallie did surpass them all with a red and rosie cheek
But Hieland Brodie floored them all with a proud and glancing eye
He's won for aye the heart and hand of bonny Mally Leigh
-------------------------------------------------------
In his collection, Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland (Glasgow, 1904), Robert Ford connects this song to Mrs. Mally Sleigh, who in 1725 was married to Lord Lyon Brodie. She was a celebrated Scottish beauty, and is depicted here strolling down an Edinburgh street. To go ajee means to lose one's bearing, or go off to one side, a reference to the state of confusion produced by this lady's charms.