Gala is a river in Lothian, not far from Edinburgh, which eventually merges with the Tweed.
This tune dates back to the time of Robert Burns who even wrote his own set of lyrics to it. According to what I've learned about this tune so far is the melody was written circa 1792. However, who wrote it is a still a mystery. This has a wonderful melody which I believe was originally an air, but now this tends to be played around 100bpm which is a wee bit faster than an air.. It's been said that Famous Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn (aka Papa Haydn), whose own compositions in the "Viennese" style influenced the works of such legends of Western Music as Mozart and Beethoven, once said that Gala Water was one of his favourite songs.
Burns' lyrics are titled "Braw Braw Lads." I've also see this melody given the title "The Brave Lads of Gallawater, and even Bonnie Lass O' Gala Water
Braw is a Scots word that means handsome.
Lyrics to come soon, but there are several versions online. Ian F. Benzie and the origninal line up of the Old Blind Dogs recorded a superb version of this tune on thier New Tricks album on the Lochshore label. This melody was learned from that recording which is in A, but whas transposed to the more fiddle/mandolin (and beginner) friendly key of D.