O, what a parish, a terrible parish, O, what a parish is that o' Dunkel', They hangit their minister, droon'd their precentor * hangit=hanged * droon'd=drawned Dang doun the steeple, and fuddled the bell. * dang=struck * doun=dawn The steeple was doun, but the Kirk was still staunin', * doun = dawn * staunin = standing They biggit a lum whaur the bell used to hang, * biggit=built * lum=chimney * whaur=where A stellpat they gat and they brewed Hieland whisky, * stellpat=stillpot * gat = got * Hieland=Highland
On Sundays they drank it, and ranted and sang. O, had you but seen how graceful it lookit To see the cramm'd pews sae socially join * sae=so Macdonald the piper stuck up in the poopit * poopit=pulpit He made the pipes skirl out music divine. Wi' whisky and beer, they'd curse and they'd swear They'd argy and fecht what ye daurna weel tell * argy=argy * fecht=fight
'Bout Geordie and Cherlie they bothered fu' rarely Wi' whisky they're worse than the devil himsel'. When the heart-cheerin' spirit had mounted their garret To a ball on the green they a' did adjourn * a' = all Maids wi' coats kilted, they steppit and liltit When tired they shook hands, and then hame did return. * hame=home If the kirks a'owre Scotland held like social meetin's * a'ower=all over Nae warning' ye'd need from a far-tinklin' bell * Nae=No For a true love and friendship wad draw ye thegither * wad=would * thegither=together Far better than roarin' the horrors o' hell.