i hung my harp upon the willows when i first made this harbor town my broken heart by fair eliza still fresh and raw when i came to town i learned a trade from alexander a scoundrel of the first degree and within the year i was so despondent that doctor fleeming well knew me oh eglinton floating on the water oh eglinton the rose was there for me i hung my harp high upon the willows of irvine town by the sea on hogmanay i burned the work down i found myself without a crown oh but i had more than any silver cause i had a friend in richard brown in eglinton wood we d wander on the drukken steps i would recite take your harp down from the willows said richard brown and he was right oh eglinton floating on the water oh eglinton the road was there for me i took my harp down from the willows richard brown i bow to thee richard brown i bow to thee richard brown i bow to thee