Robert Gilfillan Biography
Robert Gilfillan (7 July 1798 – 4 December 1850) was a poet and songwriter, born at Dunfermline, Scotland, and latterly a collector of the police rates at Leith. He wrote a number of Scottish songs, and was favourably mentioned in Noctes Ambrosianae (see Wilson, J.). He was the author of the beautiful song, Oh, why left I my Hame?.
He published a 150-page book of songs in 1831, which garnered sufficient acclaim to spur publication of a longer version in 1835, and another in 1839.
This article incorporates public domain text from : Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J. M. Dent & Sons; New York, E. P. Dutton.
Oh! the happy days o' youth are fast gaun by,
And age is coming on, wi' its bleak winter sky;
...
Fare thee well, for I must leave thee;
But, oh, let not our parting grieve thee;
Happier days may yet be mine,
...
Oh! why left I my hame?
Why did I cross the deep?
Oh! why left I the land
Where my forefathers sleep?
...
'Tis the first rose of summer that opes to my view,
With its bright crimson bosom all bathed in the dew;
...
Where Manor stream rins blithe an' clear,
And Castlehill's white wa's appear,
I spent ae day, aboon a' days,
...
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