The Bailies of Bonnie Dundee

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THE BAILIES OF BONNIE DUNDEE 

(Air, The Bonnets o’ Bonnie Dundee) 

To the Bailies in council ‘twas Mitchell who cried 
It’s as clear as the sun that the Provost has lied, 
And his presence with us, all true men will agree, 
Is a blot on the honour of Bonnie Dundee. 

Then down with all fibbers, and show up all frauds 
Intrguers and schemers and sly jourking lads, 
Let not our town council a laughing stock be, 
But keep a clean record in Bonnie Dundee. 

But the Bailies they flout him, the councillors jeer, 
And the tax-dodging Provost assumes a fine sneer, 
Quoth he—It’s not lying to twist truth a wee, 
It’s a time honoured custom in Bonnie Dundee. 

Then down with the caitif who dares to criticise, 
The actions and words of a provost sae wise, 
Browbeat him and bully him—let the fool see, 
Well permit no mere workman to rule in Dundee, 

But a little bird out on the window sill lilts, 
Here comes the tax gatherer, the Lord Provost wilts 
And from the tax gatherer endeavoured to flee, 
But,—the rest is well known in Bonnie Dundee. 

Then dawn with all fibbers, and show up all frauds, 
Intriguers and schemers and sly jourking lads, 
Hit straight out nor spare them, whate’er their degree 
And we’ll drive ail the rascals from Bonnie Dundee. 

ALVAN MARLAW. 
Dundee, Nov., 1904, 

Note
In 1904 Lord Provost Charles Barrie was fined for an ‘incorrect income tax return’. See The Rime of the Ancient Harridan, Or the Provost’s Tax [around 1906] https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/0rxxxp 
This Ballad is on the ‘Word on the Street’ site at https://digital.nls.uk/broadsides/view/?id=16355