Charming Willy

My Father-in-Law, Maurice, told me years ago about a fellow from Tracadie who would swim the Hillsborough River to see his girl on the Fort Augustus side, saving a long walk to the bridge at Mount Stewart. To keep his clothes from getting wet, he’d strip, fold them up, and place them on his head for the swim across. His shoes were tied and placed on the top of the pile. My imagination did the rest.

Charming Willy

Charming Willie swims the river, with his clothes upon his head And his fancy dancy shoes, there on the top His lassie's waiting eagerly, she’s handy to the Shore Charming Willy sees her there, And then he stops

Chorus: Don't be shy Charming Willy, meet her eyes Charming Willy It's not anything she hasn't seen before, wearing just your bonny grin With the whiskers on your chin, it’ll do the lass no harm to see some more

He rises from the water, just around the river bend Waiting for his lassie to draw near, imagine his surprise  When there before his eyes, her father with his horse and cart appears 

Chorus: Don't be shy Charming Willy, Meet his eye Charming Willy It's not anything he hasn't seen before, Wearing just your bonny grin And the whiskers on your chin, It will do yourself no harm to swim some more

In his jacket and his hat And his fancy dancy shoes Charming Willy's at the Fort Augustus dance He does the highland fling, Til it loosens up a string Then down around his ankles falls his pants

Chorus Don't be shy Charming Willy, Meet their eyes Charming Willy It's not anything they haven't seen before, Wearing just your bonny grin With the whiskers on your chin, It will do them all no harm to see some more