Printer — If the productions of a simple ploughman can merit a place in the same paper with Sylvester Otway, and the other favourites of the Muses who illuminate the Star with the lustre of genius, your insertion of the enclosed trifle will be succeeded by future communications from — Yours, &c., R. BURNS.
Ellisland, near Dumfries, 18th May,
1789.”
FAIR the face of orient day,
Fair the tints of op’ning rose;
But fairer still my Delia dawns,
More lovely far her beauty shows.
Sweet the lark’s wild warbled lay, 5
Sweet the tinkling rill to hear;
But, Delia, more delightful still,
Steal thine accents on mine ear.
The flower-enamour’d busy bee
The rosy banquet loves to sip; 10
Sweet the streamlet’s limpid lapse
To the sun-brown’d Arab’s lip.
But, Delia, on thy balmy lips
Let me, no vagrant insect, rove;
O let me steal one liquid kiss, 15
For Oh! my soul is parch’d with love.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
263.
The Gardener wi’ his Paidle (Song)
Tune— “The Gardener’s March.”
WHEN rosy May comes in wi’ flowers,
To deck her gay, green-spreading bowers,
Then busy, busy are his hours,
The Gard’ner wi’ his paidle.
The crystal waters gently fa’, 5
The merry bards are lovers a’,
The scented breezes round him blaw —
The Gard’ner wi’ his paidle.
When purple morning starts the hare
To steal upon her early fare; 10
Then thro’ the dews he maun repair —
The Gard’ner wi’ his paidle.
When day, expiring in the west,
The curtain draws o’ Nature’s rest,
He flies to her arms he lo’es the best, 15
The Gard’ner wi’ his paidle.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
264.
On a Bank of Flowers (Song)
ON a bank of flowers, in a summer day,
For summer lightly drest,
The youthful, blooming Nelly lay,
With love and sleep opprest;
When Willie, wand’ring thro’ the wood, 5
Who for her favour oft had sued;
He gaz’d, he wish’d
He fear’d, he blush’d,
And trembled where he stood.
Her closèd eyes, like weapons sheath’d, 10
Were seal’d in soft repose;
Her lip, still as she fragrant breath’d,
It richer dyed the rose;
The springing lilies, sweetly prest,
Wild-wanton kissed her rival breast; 15
He gaz’d, he wish’d,
He mear’d, he blush’d,
His bosom ill at rest.
Her robes, light-waving in the breeze,
Her tender limbs embrace; 20
Her lovely form, her native ease,
All harmony and grace;
Tumultuous tides his pulses roll,
A faltering, ardent kiss he stole;
He gaz’d, he wish’d, 25
He fear’d, he blush’d,
And sigh’d his very soul.
As flies the partridge from the brake,
On fear-inspired wings,
So Nelly, starting, half-awake, 30
Away affrighted springs;
But Willie follow’d-as he should,
He overtook her in the wood;
He vow’d, he pray’d,
He found the maid 35
Forgiving all, and good.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
265.
Young Jockie was the Blythest Lad (Song)
YOUNG Jockie was the blythest lad,
In a’ our town or here awa;
Fu’ blythe he whistled at the gaud,
Fu’ lightly danc’d he in the ha’.
He roos’d my een sae bonie blue, 5
He roos’d my waist sae genty sma’;
An’ aye my heart cam to my mou’,
When ne’er a body heard or saw.
My Jockie toils upon the plain,
Thro’ wind and weet, thro’ frost and snaw: 10
And o’er the lea I leuk fu’ fain,
When Jockie’s owsen hameward ca’.
An’ aye the night comes round again,
When in his arms he taks me a’;
An’ aye he vows he’ll be my ain, 15
As lang’s he has a breath to draw.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
266.
The Banks of Nith (Song)
THE THAMES flows proudly to the sea,
Where royal cities stately stand;
But sweeter flows the Nith to me,
Where Comyns ance had high command.
When shall I see that honour’d land, 5
That winding stream I love so dear!
Must wayward Fortune’s adverse hand
For ever, ever keep me here!
How lovely, Nith, thy fruitful vales,
Where bounding hawthorns gaily bloom; 10
And sweetly spread thy sloping dales,
Where lambkins wanton through the broom.
Tho’ wandering now must be my doom,
Far from thy bonie banks and braes,
May there my latest hours consume, 15
Amang the friends of early days!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
267.
Jamie, Come Try Me (Song)
Chorus. — Jamie, come try me,
Jamie, come try me,
If thou would win my love,
Jamie, come try me.
IF thou should ask my love, 5
Could I deny thee?
If thou would win my love,
Jamie, come try me!
Jamie, come try me, &c.
If thou should kiss me, love, 10
Wha could espy thee?
If thou wad be my love,
Jamie, come try me!
Jamie, come try me, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
268.
I Love my Love in Secret (Song)
MY Sandy gied to me a ring,
Was a’ beset wi’ diamonds fine;
But I gied him a far better thing,
I gied my heart in pledge o’ his ring.
Chorus. — My Sandy O, my Sandy O, 5
My bonie, bonie Sandy O;
Tho’ the love that I owe
To thee I dare na show,
Yet I love my love in secret, my Sandy O.
My Sandy brak a piece o’ gowd, 10
While down his cheeks the saut tears row’d;
He took a hauf, and gied it to me,
And I’ll keep it till the hour I die.
My Sand O, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
269.
Sweet Tibbie Dunbar (Song)
O WILT thou go wi’ me, sweet Tibbie Dunbar?
O wilt thou go wi’ me, sweet Tibbie Dunbar?
Wilt thou ride on a horse, or be drawn in a car,
Or walk by my side, O sweet Tibbie Dunbar?
I care na thy daddie, his lands and his money, 5
I care na thy kin, sae high and sae lordly;
But sae that thou’lt hae me for better for waur,
And come in thy coatie, sweet Tibbie Dunbar.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
270.
The Captain’s Lady (Song)
Chorus. — O mount and go, mount and make you ready,
O mount and go, and be the Captain’s lady.
WHEN the drums do beat, and the cannons rattle,
Thou shalt sit in state, and see thy love in battle:
When the drums do beat, and the cannons rattle, 5
Thou shalt sit in state, and see thy love in battle.
O mount and go, &c.
When the vanquish’d foe sues for peace and quiet,
To the shades we’ll go, and in love enjoy it:
When the vanquish’d foe sues for peace and quiet, 10
To the shades we’ll go, and in love enjoy it.
O mount and go, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
271.
John Anderson, My Jo (Song)
JOHN ANDERSON, my jo, John,
When we were first acquent;
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonie brow was brent;
But now your brow is beld, John, 5
Your locks are like the snaw;
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson, my jo.
John Anderson, my jo, John,
We clamb the hill thegither; 10
And mony a cantie day, John,
We’ve had wi’ ane anither:
Now we maun totter down, John,
And hand in hand we’ll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot, 15
John Anderson, my jo.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
272.
My Love she’s but a Lassie yet (Song)
MY love, she’s but a lassie yet,
My love, she’s but a lassie yet;
We’ll let her stand a year or twa,
She’ll no be half sae saucy yet;
I rue the day I sought her, O! 5
I rue the day I sought her, O!
Wha gets her needs na say she’s woo’d,
But he may say he’s bought her, O.
Come, draw a drap o’ the best o’t yet,
Come, draw a drap o’ the best o’t yet, 10
Gae seek for pleasure whare you will,
But here I never miss’d it yet,
We’re a’ dry wi’ drinkin o’t,
We’re a’ dry wi’ drinkin o’t;
The minister kiss’d the fiddler’s wife; 15
He could na preach for thinkin o’t.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
273.
Tam Glen (Song)
MY heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie,
Some counsel unto me come len’,
To anger them a’ is a pity,
But what will I do wi’ Tam Glen?
I’m thinking, wi’ sic a braw fellow, 5
In poortith I might mak a fen;
What care I in riches to wallow,
If I maunna marry Tam Glen!
There’s Lowrie the Laird o’ Dumeller —
“Gude day to you, brute!” he comes ben: 10
He brags and he blaws o’ his siller,
But when will he dance like Tam Glen!
My minnie does constantly deave me,
And bids me beware o’ young men;
They flatter, she says, to deceive me, 15
But wha can think sae o’ Tam Glen!
My daddie says, gin I’ll forsake him,
He’d gie me gude hunder marks ten;
But, if it’s ordain’d I maun take him,
O wha will I get but Tam Glen! 20
Yestreen at the Valentine’s dealing,
My heart to my mou’ gied a sten’;
For thrice I drew ane without failing,
And thrice it was written “Tam Glen”!
The last Halloween I was waukin 25
My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken,
His likeness came up the house staukin,
And the very grey breeks o’ Tam Glen!
Come, counsel, dear Tittie, don’t tarry;
I’ll gie ye my bonie black hen, 30
Gif ye will advise me to marry
The lad I lo’e dearly, Tam Glen.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
274.
Carle, an’ the King come (Song)
Chorus. — Carle, an the King come,
Carle, an the King come,
Thou shalt dance and I will sing,
Carle, an the King come.
AN SOMEBODY were come again, 5
Then somebody maun cross the main,
And every man shall hae his ain,
Carle, an the King come.
Carle, an the King come, &c.
I trow we swapped for the worse, 10
We gae the boot and better horse;
And that we’ll tell them at the cross,
Carle, an the King come.
Carle, an the King come, &c.
Coggie, an the King come, 15
Coggie, an the King come,
I’se be fou, and thou’se be toom
Coggie, an the King come.
Coggie, an the King come, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
275.
The Laddie’s dear sel’ (Song)
THERE’S a youth in this city, it were a great pity
That he from our lassies should wander awa’;
For he’s bonie and braw, weel-favor’d witha’,
An’ his hair has a natural buckle an’ a’.
His coat is the hue o’ his bonnet sae blue, 5
His fecket is white as the new-driven snaw;
His hose they are blae, and his shoon like the slae,
And his clear siller buckles, they dazzle us a’.
For beauty and fortune the laddie’s been courtin;
Weel-featur’d, weel-tocher’d, weel-mounted an’ braw; 10
But chiefly the siller that gars him gang till her,
The penny’s the jewel that beautifies a’.
There’s Meg wi’ the mailen that fain wad a haen him,
And Susie, wha’s daddie was laird o’ the Ha’;
There’s lang-tocher’d Nancy maist fetters his fancy, 15
But the laddie’s dear sel’, he loes dearest of a’.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
276.
Whistle o’er the lave o’t (Song)
FIRST when Maggie was my care,
Heav’n, I thought, was in her air,
Now we’re married-speir nae mair,
But whistle o’er the lave o’t!
Meg was meek, and Meg was mild, 5
Sweet and harmless as a child —
Wiser men than me’s beguil’d;
Whistle o’er the lave o’t!
How we live, my Meg and me,
How we love, and how we gree, 10
I care na by how few may see —
Whistle o’er the lave o’t!
Wha I wish were maggot’s meat,
Dish’d up in her winding-sheet,
I could write-but Meg maun see’t — 15
Whistle o’er the lave o’t!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
277.
My Eppie Adair (Song)
Chorus. — An’ O my Eppie, my jewel, my Eppie,
Wha wad na be happy wi’ Eppie Adair?
BY love, and by beauty, by law, and by duty,
I swear to be true to my Eppie Adair!
By love, and by beauty, by law, and by duty, 5
I swear to be true to my Eppie Adair!
And O my Eppie, &c.
A’ pleasure exile me, dishonour defile me,
If e’er I beguile ye, my Eppie Adair!
A’ pleasure exile me, dishonour defile me, 10
If e’er I beguile thee, my Eppie Adair!
And O my Eppie, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
278.
On the late Captain Grose’s Peregrinations
Peregrinations thro’ Scotland, collecting the Antiquities of that Kingdom
HEAR, Land o’ Cakes, and brither Scots,
Frae Maidenkirk to Johnie Groat’s; —
If there’s a hole in a’ your coats,
I rede you tent it:
A chield’s amang you takin notes, 5
And, faith, he’ll prent it:
If in your bounds ye chance to light
Upon a fine, fat fodgel wight,
O’ stature short, but genius bright,
That’s he, mark weel; 10
And wow! he has an unco sleight
O’ cauk and keel.
By some auld, houlet-haunted biggin,
Or kirk deserted by its riggin,
It’s ten to ane ye’ll find him snug in 15
Some eldritch part,
Wi’ deils, they say, L — d save’s! colleaguin
At some black art.
Ilk ghaist that haunts auld ha’ or chaumer,
Ye gipsy-gang that deal in glamour, 20
And you, deep-read in hell’s black grammar,
Warlocks and witches,
Ye’ll quake at his conjuring hammer,
Ye midnight bitches.
It’s tauld he was a sodger bred, 25
And ane wad rather fa’n than fled;
But now he’s quat the spurtle-blade,
And dog-skin wallet,
And taen the — Antiquarian trade,
I think they call it. 30
He has a fouth o’ auld nick-nackets:
Rusty airn caps and jinglin jackets,
Wad haud the Lothians three in tackets,
A towmont gude;
And parritch-pats and auld saut-backets, 35
Before the flood.
Of Eve’s first fire he has a cinder;
Auld Tubalcain’s fire-shool and fender;
That which distinguished the gender
O’ Balaam’s ass: 40
A broomstick o’ the witch of Endor,
Weel shod wi’ brass.
Forbye, he’ll shape you aff fu’ gleg
The cut of Adam’s philibeg;
The knife that nickit Abel’s craig 45
He’ll prove you fully,
It was a faulding jocteleg,
Or lang-kail gullie.
But wad ye see him in his glee,
For meikle glee and fun has he, 50
Then set him down, and twa or three
Gude fellows wi’ him:
And port, O port! shine thou a wee,
And THEN ye’ll see him!
Now, by the Pow’rs o’ verse and prose! 55
Thou art a dainty chield, O Grose! —
Whae’er o’ thee shall ill suppose,
They sair misca’ thee;
I’d take the rascal by the nose,
Wad say, “Shame fa’ thee!” 60
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
279.
Epigram on Francis Grose the Antiquary
THE DEVIL got notice that Grose was a-dying
So whip! at the summons, old Satan came flying;
But when he approached where poor Francis lay moaning,
And saw each bed-post with its burthen a-groaning,
Astonish’d, confounded, cries Satan— “By G — , 5
I’ll want him, ere I take such a damnable load!”
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
280.
The Kirk of Scotland’s Alarm: A Ballad
A Ballad.
Tune— “Come rouse, Brother Sportsman!”
ORTHODOX! orthodox, who believe in John Knox,
Let me sound an alarm to your conscience:
A heretic blast has been blown in the West,
That what is no sense must be nonsense,
Orthodox! That what is no sense must be nonsense. 5
Doctor Mac! Doctor Mac, you should streek on a rack,
To strike evil-doers wi’ terror:
To join Faith and Sense, upon any pretence,
Was heretic, damnable error,
Doctor Mac! ‘Twas heretic, damnable error. 10
Town of Ayr! town of Ayr, it was mad, I declare,
To meddle wi’ mischief a-brewing,
Provost John is still deaf to the Church’s relief,
And Orator Bob is its ruin,
Town of Ayr! Yes, Orator Bob is its ruin. 15
D’rymple mild! D’rymple mild, tho’ your heart’s like a child,
And your life like the new-driven snaw,
Yet that winna save you, auld Satan must have you,
For preaching that three’s ane an’ twa,
D’rymple mild! For preaching that three’s ane an’ twa. 20
Rumble John! rumble John, mount the steps with a groan,
Cry the book is with heresy cramm’d;
Then out wi’ your ladle, deal brimstone like aidle,
And roar ev’ry note of the D—’d.
Rumble John! And roar ev’ry note of the D—’d. 25
Simper James! simper James, leave your fair Killie dames,
There’s a holier chase in your view:
I’ll lay on your head, that the pack you’ll soon lead,
For puppies like you there’s but few,
Simper James! For puppies like you there’s but few. 30
Singet Sawnie! singet Sawnie, are ye huirdin the penny,
Unconscious what evils await?
With a jump, yell, and howl, alarm ev’ry soul,
For the foul thief is just at your gate.
Singet Sawnie! For the foul thief is just at your gate. 35
Poet Willie! poet Willie, gie the Doctor a volley,
Wi’ your “Liberty’s Chain” and your wit;
O’er Pegasus’ side ye ne’er laid a stride,
Ye but smelt, man, the place where he sh-t.
Poet Willie! Ye but smelt man, the place where he sh-t. 40
Barr Steenie! Barr Steenie, what mean ye, what mean ye?
If ye meddle nae mair wi’ the matter,
Ye may hae some pretence to havins and sense,
Wi’ people that ken ye nae better,
Barr Steenie! Wi’people that ken ye nae better. 45
Jamie Goose! Jamie Goose, ye made but toom roose,
In hunting the wicked Lieutenant;
But the Doctor’s your mark, for the Lord’s holy ark,
He has cooper’d an’ ca’d a wrang pin in’t,
Jamie Goose! He has cooper’d an’ ca’d a wrang pin in’t. 50
Davie Bluster! Davie Bluster, for a saint ye do muster,
The core is no nice o’ recruits;
Yet to worth let’s be just, royal blood ye might boast,
If the Ass were the king o’ the brutes,
Davie Bluster! If the Ass were the king o’ the brutes. 55
Cessnock-side! Cessnock-side, wi’ your turkey-cock pride
Of manhood but sma’ is your share:
Ye’ve the figure, ‘tis true, ev’n your foes will allow,
And your friends they dare grant you nae mair,
Cessnock-side! And your friends they dare grant you nae mair. 60
Muirland Jock! muirland Jock, when the L — d makes a rock,
To crush common-sense for her sins;
If ill-manners were wit, there’s no mortal so fit
To confound the poor Doctor at ance,
Muirland Jock! To confound the poor Doctor at ance. 65
Andro Gowk! Andro Gowk, ye may slander the Book,
An’ the Book nought the waur, let me tell ye;
Tho’ ye’re rich, an’ look big, yet, lay by hat an’ wig,
An’ ye’ll hae a calf’s-had o’ sma’ value,
Andro Gowk! Ye’ll hae a calf’s head o’ sma value. 70
Daddy Auld! daddy Auld, there’a a tod in the fauld,
A tod meikle waur than the clerk;
Tho’ ye do little skaith, ye’ll be in at the death,
For gif ye canna bite, ye may bark,
Daddy Auld! Gif ye canna bite, ye may bark. 75
Holy Will! holy Will, there was wit in your skull,
When ye pilfer’d the alms o’ the poor;
The timmer is scant when ye’re taen for a saunt,
Wha should swing in a rape for an hour,
Holy Will! Ye should swing in a rape for an hour. 80
Calvin’s sons! Calvin’s sons, seize your spiritual guns,
Ammunition you never can need;
Your hearts are the stuff will be powder enough,
And your skulls are a storehouse o’ lead,
Calvin’s sons! Your skulls are a storehouse o’ lead. 85
Poet Burns! poet Burns, wi” your priest-skelpin turns,
Why desert ye your auld native shire?
Your muse is a gipsy, yet were she e’en tipsy,
She could ca’us nae waur than we are,
Poet Burns! She could ca’us nae waur than we are. 90
PRESENTATION STANZAS TO CORRESPONDENTS
Factor John! Factor John, whom the Lord made alone,
And ne’er made anither, thy peer,
Thy poor servant, the Bard, in respectful regard,
He presents thee this token sincere,
Factor John! He presents thee this token sincere. 95
Afton’s Laird! Afton’s Laird, when your pen can be spared,
A copy of this I bequeath,
On the same sicker score as I mention’d before,
To that trusty auld worthy, Clackleith,
Afton’s Laird! To that trusty auld worthy, Clackleith. 100
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
281.
Sonnet to R. Graham, Esq., on Receiving a Favour
10 Aug., 1789.
Addressed to ROBERT GRAHAM, Esq. of Fintry.
I CALL no Goddess to inspire my strains,
A fabled Muse may suit a bard that feigns:
Friend of my life! my ardent spirit burns,
And all the tribute of my heart returns,
For boons accorded, goodness ever new, 5
The gifts still dearer, as the giver you.
Thou orb of day! thou other paler light!
And all ye many sparkling stars of night!
If aught that giver from my mind efface,
If I that giver’s bounty e’er disgrace, 10
Then roll to me along your wand’rig spheres,
Only to number out a villain’s years!
I lay my hand upon my swelling breast,
And grateful would, but cannot speak the rest.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
282.
Extemporaneous Effusion on being appointed to an Excise Division
On being appointed to an Excise division.
SEARCHING auld wives’ barrels,
Ochon the day!
That clarty barm should stain my laurels:
But — what’ll ye say?
These movin’ things ca’d wives an’ weans, 5
Wad move the very hearts o’ stanes!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
283.
Willie brew’d a Peck o’ Maut (Song)
O WILLIE brew’d a peck o’ maut,
And Rob and Allen cam to see;
Three blyther hearts, that lee-lang night,
Ye wadna found in Christendie.
Chorus. — We are na fou, we’re nae that fou, 5
But just a drappie in our ee;
The cock may craw, the day may daw
And aye we’ll taste the barley bree.
Here are we met, three merry boys,
Three merry boys I trow are we; 10
And mony a night we’ve merry been,
And mony mae we hope to be!
We are na fou, &c.
It is the moon, I ken her horn,
That’s blinkin’ in the lift sae hie; 15
She shines sae bright to wyle us hame,
But, by my sooth, she’ll wait a wee!
We are na fou, &c.
Wha first shall rise to gang awa,
A cuckold, coward loun is he! 20
Wha first beside his chair shall fa’,
He is the King amang us three.
We are na fou, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
284.
Ca’ the Yowes to the Knowes (older set) (Song)
Chorus. — Ca’ the yowes to the knowes,
Ca’ them where the heather grows,
Ca’ them where the burnie rowes,
My bonie dearie
AS I gaed down the water-side, 5
There I met my shepherd lad:
He row’d me sweetly in his plaid,
And he ca’d me his dearie.
Ca’ the yowes, &c.
Will ye gang down the water-side, 10
And see the waves sae sweetly glide
Beneath the hazels spreading wide,
The moon it shines fu’ clearly.
Ca’ the yowes, &c.
Ye sall get gowns and ribbons meet, 15
Cauf-leather shoon upon your feet,
And in my arms ye’se lie and sleep,
An’ ye sall be my dearie.
Ca’ the yowes, &c.
If ye’ll but stand to what ye’ve said, 20
I’se gang wi’ thee, my shepherd lad,
And ye may row me in your plaid,
And I sall be your dearie.
Ca’ the yowes, &c.
While waters wimple to the sea, 25
While day blinks in the lift sae hie,
Till clay-cauld death sall blin’ my e’e,
Ye sall be my dearie.
Ca’ the yowes, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
285.
I Gaed a Waefu’ Gate Yestreen (Song)
I GAED a waefu’ gate yestreen,
A gate, I fear, I’ll dearly rue;
I gat my death frae twa sweet een,
Twa lovely een o’bonie blue.
‘Twas not her golden ringlets bright, 5
Her lips like roses wat wi’ dew,
Her heaving bosom, lily-white —
It was her een sae bonie blue.
She talk’d, she smil’d, my heart she wyl’d;
She charm’d my soul I wist na how; 10
And aye the stound, the deadly wound,
Cam frae her een so bonie blue.
But “spare to speak, and spare to speed;”
She’ll aiblins listen to my vow:
Should she refuse, I’ll lay my dead 15
To her twa een sae bonie blue.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
286.
Highland Harry back again (Song)
MY Harry was a gallant gay,
Fu’ stately strade he on the plain;
But now he’s banish’d far away,
I’ll never see him back again.
Chorus. — O for him back again! 5
O for him back again!
I wad gie a’ Knockhaspie’s land
For Highland Harry back again.
When a’ the lave gae to their bed,
I wander dowie up the glen; 10
I set me down and greet my fill,
And aye I wish him back again.
O for him, &c.
O were some villains hangit high,
And ilka body had their ain! 15
Then I might see the joyfu’ sight,
My Highland Harry back again.
O for him, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
287.
The Battle of Sherramuir (Song)
Tune— “The Cameronian Rant.”
“O CAM ye here the fight to shun,
Or herd the sheep wi’ me, man?
Or were ye at the Sherra-moor,
Or did the battle see, man?”
I saw the battle, sair and teugh, 5
And reekin-red ran mony a sheugh;
My heart, for fear, gaed sough for sough,
To hear the thuds, and see the cluds
O’ clans frae woods, in tartan duds,
Wha glaum’d at kingdoms three, man. 10
La, la, la, la, &c.
The red-coat lads, wi’ black cockauds,
To meet them were na slaw, man;
They rush’d and push’d, and blude outgush’d
And mony a bouk did fa’, man: 15
The great Argyle led on his files,
I wat they glanced twenty miles;
They hough’d the clans like nine-pin kyles,
They hack’d and hash’d, while braid-swords, clash’d,
And thro’ they dash’d, and hew’d and smash’d, 20
Till fey men died awa, man.
La, la, la, la, &c.
But had ye seen the philibegs,
And skyrin tartan trews, man;
When in the teeth they dar’d our Whigs, 25
And covenant True-blues, man:
In lines extended lang and large,
When baiginets o’erpower’d the targe,
And thousands hasten’d to the charge;
Wi’ Highland wrath they frae the sheath 30
Drew blades o’ death, till, out o’ breath,
They fled like frighted dows, man!
La, la, la, la, &c.
“O how deil, Tam, can that be true?
The chase gaed frae the north, man; 35
I saw mysel, they did pursue,
The horsemen back to Forth, man;
And at Dunblane, in my ain sight,
They took the brig wi’ a’ their might,
And straught to Stirling wing’d their flight; 40
But, cursed lot! the gates were shut;
And mony a huntit poor red-coat,
For fear amaist did swarf, man!”
La, la, la, la, &c.
My sister Kate cam up the gate 45
Wi’ crowdie unto me, man;
She swoor she saw some rebels run
To Perth unto Dundee, man;
Their left-hand general had nae skill;
The Angus lads had nae gude will 50
That day their neibors’ blude to spill;
For fear, for foes, that they should lose
Their cogs o’ brose; they scar’d at blows,
And hameward fast did flee, man.
La, la, la, la, &c. 55
They’ve lost some gallant gentlemen,
Amang the Highland clans, man!
I fear my Lord Panmure is slain,
Or fallen in Whiggish hands, man,
Now wad ye sing this double fight, 60
Some fell for wrang, and some for right;
But mony bade the world gude-night;
Say, pell and mell, wi’ muskets’ knell
How Tories fell, and Whigs to hell
Flew off in frighted bands, man! 65
La, la, la, la, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
288.
The Braes o’ Killiecrankie (Song)
WHERE hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Whare hae ye been sae brankie, O?
Whare hae ye been sae braw, lad?
Cam ye by Killiecrankie, O?
Chorus. — An ye had been whare I hae been, 5
Ye wad na been sae cantie, O;
An ye had seen what I hae seen,
I’ the Braes o’ Killiecrankie, O.
I faught at land, I faught at sea,
At hame I faught my Auntie, O; 10
But I met the devil an’ Dundee,
On the Braes o’ Killiecrankie, O.
An ye had been, &c.
The bauld Pitcur fell in a furr,
An’ Clavers gat a clankie, O; 15
Or I had fed an Athole gled,
On the Braes o’ Killiecrankie, O.
An ye had been, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
289.
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