There's a song my Scottish father has been singing my entire life, and I'd really love to know what it is and who sang it.

It's based on the story of Greyfriars Bobby, but it isn't 'The ballad of Greyfriars Bobby' by The Real McKenzies.

As far as I know (and bear in mind that my father's memory is not the best, and his accent makes things hard too, also if he forgets words he has a tendency to just add things in that 'sound right') the lyrics are:

Neath the rugged Scottish mountains
Lived a shepherd long ago
Tending sheep whatever the weather
Be it wind or rain or snow
He was tired but never lonely
Though he wandered far and wide
For his faithful doggie Bobby
Never left the shepherd's side

But the shepherd growing older
Suffered grave infirmity
All alone he fled to Edinburgh
There to die in poverty
But the faithfull doggie followed
Only instinct was his guide
'Till he found his ailing master
And he never left his side

When they buried Bobby's master
Still he never left his side
By a grave in Greyfriars kirkyard
Bobby watched until he died
And the Edinburgh folks in wonder
For such loyalty's rare to see
Raised a statue in the city
To the doggie's memory

Now today man treats his neighbour
With mistrust and [something] fear
For suspicious dark ambition
Seems to worsen every year
But the day is ever dawning
When all men shall brothers be
For a humble Scottish doggie
Showed the way to you and me