LOUD blaw the frosty breezes,
The snaws the mountains cover;
Like winter on me seizes,
Since my young Highland rover
Far wanders nations over.
Where’er he go, where’er he stray,
May heaven be his warden;
Return him safe to fair Strathspey,
And bonie Castle-Gordon!
The trees, now naked groaning,
Shall soon wi’ leaves be hinging,
The birdies dowie moaning,
Shall a’ be blythely singing,
And every flower be springing;
Sae I’ll rejoice the lee-lang day,
When by his mighty Warden
My youth’s return’d to fair Strathspey,
And bonie Castle-Gordon.