Born on the ferm, on the heed o' the hill
li'ed a loon we' a passion, and a dream to fulfill
Raised on th' meal, and th' tatties and neeps,
Our James played the fiddle in auld sharney beets Those buits! ah, those buits! James' auld sharny buits! Tho' his love o' the land, he never could lose
Tae ferm or tae fiddle, our James had to choose
The fiddle tae play, or the auld kye tae milk?
When time came to choose, the auld buits got the jilt Those buits! ah, those buits! James' auld sharny buits!
When James plays the fiddle, there's nane can compete
For he sounds like the angel, sae gentle and sweet
But he grins like the de'il, in 'is auld sharney buits Tho' his music held charm for the Queen o' the land
Ney bow would he mak' or n'er shake her hand
Now mither wise dancing the height of hersel'
"You little upstart we shall a' go to hell!" Those buits! ah, those buits! James' auld sharny buits!
When James plays the fiddle, there's nane can compete
For he sounds like the angel, sae gentle and sweet
But he grins like the de'il, in 'is auld sharney buits Ain nicht as James mak's his way hame from a show
A bold apparition appears in a glow!
"It's auld Willie Marshall, God what ha'e I deen!
I hope that I hav'nae played something obscene" Willie, he smiled wi' a wink o' is een
"Na fear my good loon, frae what I hae seen
The young folk wha' gather tae learn and tae play
How their fiddles ring out from the banks o' the Spey!" Those buits! ah, those buits! their own sharny buits!
When they play the fiddle, there's nane can compete
For they sounds like the angels, sae gentle and sweet
But they grins like the de'il, in their aown sharney buits Next time yer tae visit James' hame by the park
Slip into the kitch, and hae a wee lark
Pu' back the door and ye hae a wee peer
'Jings' auld sharney buits, richt there on the fleer | 
