BalladOfGreyfriarsBobby
Channel: offthewallsmusic
Date: 08/11/2012

This is a song with lyrics written by American word-smith Joel Sattler based on the true story which can be found at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby  .
Joel sent this song to me without the knowledge that I had, a few weeks before during a family trip, been taken on a visit to this very spot. Since composing the music and putting it to song I have returned to Edinburgh and shot some video of the relevant areas and monuments.

THE BALLAD OF GREYFRIARS BOBBY
by Joel Sattler
I'll tell you the story of Greyfriars Bobby
A story of love and of dog loyalty
If there is a heaven for faithful companions
Old Bobby is king of canine royalty

Bobby belonged to a policeman in Scotland
His name was John Gray and The Watch was his work
But he died in the year of 1858
And was buried in the yard at Greyfriars Kirk

For two years he'd owned a scruffy wee dog
A little Skye Terrier braver than brave
Who went to the funeral quiet he stood
And when it was over he lay on the grave

He'd wait for his master through the summer and autumn
And through many months he stayed and stood guard
For 14 long years he knew just what his job was
Through ice and through snow and the winter so hard

Some coldhearted people by this were annoyed
Said "he has no owner, he should be destroyed!"
But the Lord Provost Chambers put his money down
And bought Bobby's license for Edinburgh town

Bobby he died and no more must he wait
But could not be buried in that sacred ground
So they laid him to rest near the Greyfriar Gate
And under a tombstone laid his small body down

Twas never a dog twas so good and so true
The stone is still standing: a shrine just for dogs
It says "Greyfriars Bobby 18-seven-two
His loyal devotion is lesson to all"