The Reply to Some Cruden Folk
Dear Sir, when ye yon verses wrote, some worthies here ye quite forgot,
Through toiling at their humble lot, are good men of Port Erroll.
The minister here on Sunday preaches, oot ower the pulpit whiles he stretches,
Trying the Scriptures for to teach us, in the Kirkie of Port Erroll.
The Brethern, godly men and true, meet in the hall on Sunday too
For their devotion to renew, in the Public Hall, Port Erroll.
And then the school, a' bodie kens, where Mr Alcock superinten's
Oor bairns, to read an' write wi' pens, in the Publis School, Port Erroll.
Some dairy kye auld Sandy keeps, and feeds them weel on strae an' neeps,
The social scale he's climbed by leaps, since he came to Port Erroll.
And then there's Jeannie fae the lodge, when measurin' milk will fairly judge,
But a drappie til't she disna grudge, when sellin't in Port Erroll.
An' if you want some fish to buy, a Haddock, or a fluke to fry,
Jamie Walker ye can try, in the fish shop o' Port Erroll.
And then there is the Brickworks too, a job supplies to not a few,
It's Jamie Gray that's boss the noo, at the Bricckworks o' Port Erroll.
An' then'ye ken, there's Mason Charlie, ye'll find in him an honest carlie,
He'll big a hoose and chairge ye fairly, the Mason o' Port Erroll.
If a man ye want to build a shed, to mend a cart, or shaft a spade,
To do yer job he will be gled-
A gardener here we hae forby, a decent chap ye'll find M'Kay,
To beat his work ye needna try-
there's Tammie Taylor, an honest man, get's cartin' jobbies noo and than,
Been here since cartin' first began, in the toonie o' Port Erroll.
There is a man ca'ed Jamie Moir, for cartin' coals fae door to door.
He ca's the toon fae shed to shore, the coalman o' Port Erroll.
And then there is auld Willie Sim, for station goods apply to him,
He'll carry them, all neat and trim, fae the station to Port Erroll.
And then, ye ken there's Willie Kidd, wha sweeps oor streets when he is bid,
his cart, I thinkshould hae a lid, when he gangs through Port Erroll.
There's Baker Bill, an' Baker John, can bake a loaf or bake a scone,
forby's ye ken, M'Lean and Son, in the bakehouse o' Port Erroll.
The baker loon, they ca' him Dods, ye'd be astonished at the loads
Hew drags along the village roads, wi's cartie in Port Erroll.
The whipper in, they ca' him Bill, the man we pay oor lamps to fill.
And don't forget auld Geordie Milne, the handie man, Port Erroll.
And then there's the man in blue, till's duty he is staunch an' true,
But we're a' so decent here the noo, he's wearyin' at Port Erroll.
And there's the men wha watch the coast, to see oor ships they don't get lost,
To drink their healths I'll gie a toast, "The Coastguards o' Port Erroll".
And noo although it's Cruden Bay, they speak aboot, I mind the day
That it was Ward they used to say, when speakin' o' port Erroll.
And noo, my frien' I wish ye weel, I hope ye yet to fame will spiel,
And that ye'll aye comrades leal, as lang's ye're in Port Erroll.