I must have some Irish blood in me, given my love for traditional Celtic music. “Wild Mountain Thyme” (“Will ye Go, Lassie Go”) is a personal favorite and a classic. Though this is an Irish folk song, it is so popular in Scotland that many think it’s Scottish. In the song, a young man professes his love his “lassie” (a young unmarried girl) and woos her among the sweet flowers of the wild mountain thyme.

I will build my love a tower
By yon clear crystal fountain.
And on it I will build
All the flowers of the mountain.
Will you go, lassie, go?

(Full lyrics at the end of this post)

Wild Mountain Thyme is a short song with a wistfully memorable melody. It’s lasting popularity is shown by the numerous artistes who have performed it, including Emily Blunt and Ed Sheeran. Here is a folksy rendition by The Kelly Family, an Irish/American music group that rose to prominence in the 1990s with their repertoire of rock, pop and folk music and their unique ragamuffin image.

And here’s a solo performance, sung with crystal-clear diction by the Australian singer-songwriter, Sarah Calderwood.

Wild Mountain Thyme – Full Lyrics

O the summer time has come
And the trees are sweetly bloomin’
The wild mountain thyme
Grows around the bloomin’ heather
Will ye go, lassie, go?

And we’ll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin’ heather
Will ye go, lassie, go?

I will build my love a bower
By yon cool crystal fountain
And ’round it I will pile
All the wild flowers o’ the mountain
Will ye go, lassie, go?

And we’ll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin’ heather
Will ye go, lassie, go?

I will range through the wilds
And the deep glen sae dreary
And return wi’ their spoils
To the bower o’ my dearie
Will ye go, lassie, go?

And we’ll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin’ heather
Will ye go, lassie, go?

If my true love she’ll not come
Then I’ll surely find another
To pull wild mountain mountain thyme
All around the bloomin’ heather
Will ye go, lassie, go?

And we’ll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin’ heather
Will ye go, lassie, go?

And we’ll all go together
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the bloomin’ heather
Will ye go, lassie, go?