Tramps & Hawkers
The traveling song, Tramps & Hawkers, was composed in the late 1800’s by the Angus hawker, Jimmy Henderson, also known as Brechin Jimmy. It celebrates those that tramp the countryside, hawking their wares, gathering the local blaw (gossip) and passing it on. They were the source of the news throughout the known world and teller of tales of distant lands. (Remember, at that time the known world and distant lands were probably anyplace within 150 miles of home.)

I have spent some portion of my life in recent years traveling and gathering blaw along with photographs. So here I present my own Tramps & Hawkers view of the Scottish countryside. And, in the tradition of many of those tramps and hawkers of old, I have composed my own verses to celebrate my journeys.

(Performed by Alex Beaton recorded live at the 2010 Stone Mountain Games and used with his permission.)

Come a' ye tramps and hawker lads, come gaitherers o’ bla’
That tramps the country roun' and roun', come listen ane and a'
I'll tell tae ye a rovin' tale, an' sights that I hae seen
Frae far up tae the snowy north, and doon by Gretna Green.

Now I must gang ta Sammy’s Lan’, my time ta leave is nigh
But I’ll return ta ye someday and ta the Isle of Skye
To tramp again the Cuillin Hills in the mist o’ th’ mornin’ dew
An’ sing o’ amber waves o’ grain when I come back tae you.

Traditional last verse:
I think I'll gang tae Paddy's Lan', I'm mukin' up my mind
For Scotland's greatly altered noo, I canna raise the wind
But I will trust in Providence, if Providence prove true
And I will sing of Erin's Isle when I come back to you.