Kelvin Grove is a traditional Celtic folk tune.
This song first appeared in The Harp of Renfrewshire, where it was erroneously credited to Mr John Sim. The words were proven to be by Thomas Lyle (1792-1859). Lyle was born in Paisley and died in Glasgow. Kelvin Grove appeared in a volume of his works, Collected Poems and Songs (1837). This song was written to the tune of “The shearin’s no for you”.
Kelvin Grove was a picturesque and richly wooded dell a short distance north west of Glasgow and was a favourite place for young people to meet on summer afternoons.
Let us haste to Kelvin Grove, bonnie lassie o
Through its mazes let us rove, bonnie lassie o
Where the roses in there pride
Deck the bonnie dingle side
Where the midnight fairies glide, bonnie lassie o
Oh Kelvin banks are fair, bonnie lassie o
When the summer we are there, bonnie lassie o
There the May-pink crimson plume
Grows a soft but sweet perfume
Round the yellow banks of broom, bonnie lassie o
Though I dare not call thee mine, bonnie lassie o
As the smile of fortune’s thine, bonnie lassie o
Yet with fortune on my side
I could stay thy father’s pride
And win thee for my bride, bonnie lassie o
But the frowns of fortune lour, bonnie lassie o
On thy lover at this hour, bonnie lassie o
Ere yon golden orb of day
Wake the warblers on their spray
From this land I must away, bonnie lassie o
Then farewell Kelvin Grove, bonnie lassie o
And adeiu to all I love, bonnie lassie o
To the river winding clear
To the fragrant scented brier
Even to thee of all most dear, bonnie lassie o
When upon a foreign shore, bonnie lassie o
Should I come midst battles roar, bonnie lassie o
Then heaven should’st thou hear
Of thy lover on his bier
To his memory shed a tear, bonnie lassie o
