Alyth Toon

by Doreen Richmond

Alyth is a bonnie place, it’s whar I want tae be,

A burn that has ten bridges, is there for a’ tae see,

The toon that I was born in, it’s whar I’ll live an dee,

It’s just a wee bit plaicie, but it’s a’ the world tae me.

Awa’ back in the auld days, it was a busy toon,

The shuttles rattled tae an fro, the spinnin wheel spun roon,

The men an women side by side, a’ stanin at their loom,

They worked their fingers tae the bone, tae earn a half a croon.

There was an auld woolmarket, whar a’ the traders ga’ed,

It even had a factory, whar tasty jam was made,

A mill that washed the sheep wool, wi’ water fae the lade,

It’s no that I can mind a’ that, but that’s what granda said.

But I mind fine the laundry, at the bottom o’ the brae,

An’ tae the roarin gas works, wi weet socks wi wad gae,

When cowpin aff the steppy stanes, as in the burn we’d play,

A place for great adventures, we were in it every day.

The toon hall had the pictures, an’ o’ the seats were sair,

But if yi selt some jeelie jars, yi could sit wa up the stair,

Then doon the road we’d wander, tae the pipe band on the square,

Wi’ Wullie Duff a’hent it, throwin his bonnet in the air.

The big park had a braw stand, tae shelter fae the rain,

An we’d sic a bonnie station, whar we could catch a train,

It took us in tae Dundee, an brocht us hame again,

But they things are awa noo, there’s nane o’ them remain.

We’ve even lost oor horseshow, it was a grand affair,

Wi’ horse an harness on parade, yi couldna’ ask for mair,

The judges they were oot in force, pickin oot the bonniest pair,

An hundreds came fae far an wide, just tae stop an stare.

Noo, we’ve seats an flower borders, up on the square tae see,

An lots o’ bonnie hooses, whar train tracks used tae be,

But Alyth’s still a braw toon, I’m sure yi will agree,

It’s still a wee bit plaicie, but it’s a’ the world tae me.

 - Doreen Richmond