Green Oak Tree, The

I'll sing about a wee toon that stands upon the Clyde,
It is the toon whaur I was born, it fills my heart with pride.
My mither often telt me as she crooned me on her knee,
That Greenock took its name frae the Green Oak Tree.

Here's to the Green Oak that grew at the square;
Here's to its roots that are still slumbering there;
Here's to my townsmen whaure're they may be;
I'm proud that I'm a branch o' the Green Oak Tree.

May Greenock like the Green Oak Tree still flourish 'neath the sun,
Her trade and commerce still increase for a thousands years to come.
And may each son o' Greenock as he battles thro' life's storm,
Be honest, true, and ne'er disgrace the toon whaur he was born.

Noo Greenock's no' a bonny toon I've heard some folk complain,
And ithers say when they go there, they nothing see but rain!
But let them say whate'er they may, wi' them I'll no agree,
For aye the name o' Greenock toon shall still be dear to me.

This is a song I know little about, but an article in the Greenock Telegraph in 2012 suggests it was written by Harry Linn, the popular music hall entertainer and songwriter who was born in Greenock and later managed one of the Halls there.

UPDATE: I have found an advertisement in the same newspaper in 1885 which shows that Linn was performing the song in that year – this is the earliest reference to the song that I have found:

The song is something of an anthem for the town of Greenock. The BBC has an interesting recollection of Jimmy Boyd teaching it to his fellow sailors in the Royal Navy in World War II.

The song has led to debates about the origins of the name “Greenock”. A correspondent responding to a query about the song in the Daily Mail, points out that rather than coming from a “green oak” it may come from the Gaelic grianaig meaning sunny knoll.

Carl Peterson recorded an album of songs in tribute to Greenock, called Branches of the Green Oak Tree, available from his website. This is his version of the song: