At first licht when is moist the dew
Black Bitches a' wi' he'rts sae true
Assemble like some cheerfu' band
The West Port throngs, a' shakin' hands!

The Bathgate Flutes are early rised
In fine array they've just arrived
And foarmin' up at Wearie's tree
Partake o' hosp- ital- itee!

Ahint the standard noo we're pacin'
A' he'rts b' this time sharely racin'
And oan tae Provost Stobie's hoose
A speech, a toast then quait's a moose!

Tae hear they flutes play jest for he
The Auld Hoose or The Rowan Tree
The music is sae sherp and sweet
Ah've seen it mak' a grown man greet!

Royal Terrace next step on the way
A toast frae Cooncillor, Mel Gray
By noo the crowd is mair than frisky
Rab Bennie imparts mair guid whisky!

By this time Preston Road's a' waken't
Maist faces waasht there fasts are breakin'
A wave tae a' the wee heids peekin'
At bedroom windaes auld yins keekin'

Past slaughterhoose and there smellt -
The stench that we've been oft-times tellt
Does not exist, we a' imagine...
If thoan wis a dream, it wis a bad yin!

I ne'er let that thocht impair
But fill't ma lungs wi' Mairches air
And oan tae Morrison's braw lawns
Bedeck't wi flooers an' bushes 'dorned

And in that weel-kept gairden braw
Fine speeches heard by yin an' a'
The trio play anither tune
That's weel-received this morn in June

The flutes oot tae the brig are gawin'
The piper at the Port's noo blawin'
Tae start the same trek yince again
Though less will follow in his train

When left the Brig the flutes go then
Tho' many dinna this fu' ken
Tae Lithca's seaport, guid Blackness
Tae rouse inhabitants fae rest

Alang the foreshore tho' we're less
Soon awakens guid Blackness
Again the flutes ring oot in style
The tune, 'The Tangle O' The Isles'

Then yince assured that preparation
Is weel in hand for visitation
Return tae Lithca, noo alive
Wi' folks arisen, mair since five

Each publican hoats up his trade
Tho' Ah'm gawin' hame - ma breakfast's made!
Eleeven bells Ah'll tak' ma stand
Ahint auld Lithca's guid pipe band

Then bands an' floats a' fine parade
The finest work a' weel hand made!
Tho' Bo'ness Fair may claim braw airches-
There's nocht can match....THE LITHCA MAIRCHES!