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 iy>^
 
 MELODIES 
 
 OF 
 
 SCOTLAND. 
 
 BY 
 
 ARCHIBALD BELL, ESQ. 
 
 EDINBURGH : 
 
 PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION. 
 
 MDCCCXLIX.
 
 rniNTED IIY NEILI. AND COMPANT, EDINRfRCU.
 
 TK 
 
 INTRODUCTION^. 
 
 Notwithstanding the valuable labours of 
 Burns, Ramsay, and others, in furnishing verses 
 for our Scottish Melodies, there still remain 
 some airs of great beauty, which are unprovided 
 with suitable words. In many of these, the old 
 words are so coarse, or absurd, as to exhibit a 
 revolting contrast to the delicacy and beauty of 
 the airs to which they belong : and, not unfre- 
 quently, their absolute indecency condemns them 
 to proscription with that sex whose sensibility, 
 taste, and voice, are calculated to give the music 
 its highest charm. Allan Ramsay (whose other 
 performances exhibit a remarkable inferiority to 
 his matchless Dramatic Pastoral of the Gentle 
 Shepherd) has written many songs ; but his suc- 
 cess has not been great. Even those in the 
 Gentle Shepherd are by far the least prominent 
 of its beauties. Most of those in his publica- 
 tions of the Evergreen and the Tea- Table Mis- 
 
 817940
 
 iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cellany — (whether written by himself, or by- 
 other contributors of his time) — are of very mo- 
 derate merit; and are, in general, deformed 
 either by coarseness on the one hand, or by a 
 mawkish classical affectation on the other. 
 
 Of the songs of Burns it is needless to speak. 
 The consenting admiration of his country has 
 long pronounced their character. To Mr George 
 Thomson, Scotland owes a debt of lasting grati- 
 tude for having called forth that mighty voice in 
 a congenial labour of love ; and for having col- 
 lected and published the corresponding airs, with 
 an industry and good taste, Avhich have spread 
 the Melodies of Scotland over many lands, and 
 made our vocal treasures the companion and 
 charm of the civilized world.* 
 
 There still remain, however, the Author has 
 persuaded himself, some good airs not furnished 
 with suitable words ; and this want he has at- 
 tempted to supply in the following pages. To- 
 wards a task so difficult he can pretend to bring 
 no qualifications, except an early delight in our 
 native music ; with the advantage of having 
 ])a8sed many of his younger years in the country, 
 
 * It wniild bo unjust hero to omit, that to Femnlc Authors 
 we arc indebted for tlirce of the tincst sets of words for Scot- 
 tish Melodies: — two for the Flowers vf the Foreit, and oue 
 Air AuM Robin Oray,
 
 INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 and in the most familiar intercourse with our 
 Scottish peasantry. Without this, it is impos- 
 sible to acquire a thorough knowledge of their 
 feelings, habits, prejudices, and language ; — 
 with their mode of thinking and mode of speak- 
 ing : — and unless this be attained, in vain will 
 any one attempt to supply words to their native 
 songs. 
 
 The Author had the advantage, at the same 
 period, of hearing our best Scottish airs sung by 
 persons of refined musical taste ; in whom the 
 most perfect scientific culture had not impaired 
 the relish of our native music, in its original 
 simplicity and purity. This is a combination 
 seldom to be met with, at the present day, w^hen 
 more elaborate and complicated systems of music 
 have much superseded the simple melodies of 
 our forefathers. This, however, is a disunion 
 which, to the Author, seems by no means neces- 
 sary or inevitable. Pie conceives it quite pos- 
 sible that a sound musical taste may, at the same 
 time, retain a relish for the simple native melo- 
 dies of Scotland, Ireland, or any other country, 
 and for the more elaborate and complex harmo- 
 nies of the Italian or German school. 
 
 The Author must own that he has little hope 
 of ever again hearing Scottish music sung in the 
 satae perfection as that in which he has formerly
 
 VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 heard it ; — for the art itself, as well as the taste 
 which understood and relished it, have almost 
 passed away. But he thinks that something 
 may still be done towards its preservation and 
 revival, by instilling good doctrine into youthful 
 minds, — continuing it by sound tradition, — and 
 providing the means of its practical exercise, by 
 furnishing suitable words for the music. 
 
 Mr Tytler of Woodhouselee (author of the 
 Vindication of Mary Queen of Scots), a person 
 eminent in musical science — but nurtured among 
 the pure luells undefilecl of genuine Scottish Song 
 — has declared that no one can properly sing a 
 Scottish air, except an individual born and bred 
 in Scotland. " A Scots song," says he, " can only 
 be sung in taste by a Scots voice." * In this opi- 
 nion the Author is somewhat disposed to concur ; 
 for though he has heard historically of one not 
 a native of Scotland being able to sing a Scottish 
 song, such a phenomenon has never been pre- 
 sented to his waking sense : And often has he 
 listened, Avith the sufferings of a martyr, to the 
 ]>arbarous trucidation committed by some ac- 
 complished English artist, on Auld Robin Gray, 
 
 • See Mr Tytler's Ditsertation on Scottish Music, printed in 
 the Appendix to Aniot's lliatonj <>/ Edinburgh. Mr Tytler 
 does, however, nftorwards inako n r|U(ilifi(>d exception in the 
 case of T(nducci, the celebrated Ituliun singer.
 
 INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 Nid, nid, noddin\ the Bush aboon Traquair, or 
 the Braes of Yarroiu. Were there no other 
 obstacle, the ludicrous mis-pronunciation of the 
 Scottish language, which must attach to all fo- 
 reigners, throws an air of burlesque over passages 
 whose sentiment is serious, or even pathetic. But, 
 besides this, there is a peculiar character in the 
 Scottish — as in all national music — indelibly in- 
 terwoven with both language and manners, — 
 which makes it impossible for any one fully to 
 comprehend, or give expression to, the music of 
 Scotland, who has not been familiar, from his 
 inffancy, with the feelings, usages, and dialect, 
 of its people. 
 
 Besides a general familiarity with the people 
 of Scotland, and their usages, there are, as it ap- 
 pears to the Author, three requisites indispen- 
 sable towards the writing of good words for Scot- 
 tish songs ; — not to mention the most indispen- 
 sable of all, — a poetical genius. 
 
 The Jirst of these is a thorough command of 
 the national dialect. This is an accomplish- 
 ment so rare, that, of all the moderns who have 
 attempted it, the Author knows only of three Avho 
 have succeeded, — Ramsay, Burns, and Sir Wal- 
 ter Scott : — and even Ramsay has often failed, 
 except in his Gentle Shepherd. Under this head 
 of Language, is included not merely an acquaint-
 
 Vlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ance with vocables, in all their shades of meaning ; 
 but a familiarity Avith the idiomatic and proverbial 
 phrases, — the manner of thinking, and turns of 
 expression, — usual among our rural population, 
 who speak their native dialect in greater purity 
 than the lower orders of large towns. Besides 
 this, an extensive knowledge of the language en- 
 ables a writer to select the pleasing, characteris- 
 tic, and euphonious expressions, and avoid such 
 as are coarse, ill-sounding, or disagreeable. The 
 legitimate Scottish language is not to be con- 
 founded with the provincial barbarisms of Eng- 
 land, or other coimtries ; but is a remnant of the 
 ancient English tongue, as used by the original 
 classical authors of England, — by Chaucer, Spen- 
 cer, Shakespear : — And indeed so late as the days 
 of Elizabeth, and Mary Queen of Scots, the lan- 
 guage of the two countries was nearly identical. 
 Many Scotsmen, of the educated classes of so- 
 ciety, are still alive, who remember that, in their 
 youth, their parents and relations, and many per- 
 sons of the highest rank and accomplishments, 
 spoke their native dialect, almost witli the same 
 intonation and pronunciation as the lower orders ; 
 though with a greater selection of expressions. 
 It was from this recollection that Sir Walter 
 Scott derived that fine discrimination of language 
 which distingui.slies the conversation of the Ba-
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 j'ou of Bradwardine, or Lady Margaret Bellen- 
 den^ from that of Dandy Dinmont, or Cuddy 
 Ileadrigg ; — a distinction of which no English 
 or foreign reader is probably sensible. There is, 
 therefore, pure and corrupt Scots, as there is pure 
 and corrupt English ; and Scottish composition 
 admits of good taste and selection as well as 
 English. 
 
 This ancient distinction of language between 
 the higher and lower classes, in Scotland, was, 
 however, so slight, that the former may be used, 
 now-a-days, in representing the dialect of the 
 people, without the smallest violation of nature. 
 It may also be observed, that, in Comic or Bur- 
 lesque Songs, words may be used which would 
 be unsuitable in those of a graver character.* 
 
 To the Author it further appears, that the 
 Scottish language is, in many respects, peculiarly 
 fitted for adaptation to music, by possessing a 
 Doric naivete, simplicity, and melody, in many 
 
 * Th,e great mistake of the usual adventurers in Scottish 
 composition is to over-Scotify. It must never be forgotten, that 
 even the humblest peasant in Scotland, in his ordinary speech, 
 uses ten English words for one strictly Scottish ; though his 
 pronunciation of the former be, no doubt, very unlike that of 
 England. It is also an error to attempt tlie expressing of the 
 exact Scottish pronunciation by English orthography. The 
 thing is really impossible ; and tlie result commonly is, to 
 render the language unintelligible both to Scotsmen and Eng- 
 lishmen.
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of the vocables, as well as in the idiomatic phrases. 
 These suit well with the simple music to which 
 they are applied. There is occasionally a soft- 
 ness and smoothness in the combinations of the 
 vowels, which slide into the notes of the mu- 
 sic with an almost Italian sweetness. These 
 beauties, however, it is not every hand or ear 
 which can attain.* 
 
 In the second place, it is necessary for one who 
 composes words for Scottish songs, to be ac- 
 quainted, not merely with the Scottish language 
 in general, but with the peculiar phraseology and 
 mode of composition used in our ancient songs. 
 In this way alone can he attain that idiomatic 
 simplicity and naivete by which, in the success- 
 ful instances, our songs are distinguished, and 
 which form their peculiar charm. Everything 
 resembling eflbrt or endeavour, — refinement or 
 over-ornament, — must be avoided; as inconsistent 
 Avith the Doric simplicity both of the thoughts 
 and the music. A sort of /^/(mfme carelessness 
 
 * The softness of tlie Scottish pronunciation is consiflerably 
 promoted by the elision of the final consonant in words, and 
 leaving the termination in a vowel, or a liquid consonant; 
 Huch as a, ca\ for all, call, &c. ; t/oi<)\<c//. himncll, for yourself, 
 himself, &c. Many particular words arc also liquid and eu- 
 phonious, as gloamin' for twilight, lowiii' for flaming, doal for 
 grief, whin or broom for fur: c or gorsc, burn for rivulet, brae for 
 declivity, wimple for tlie undulation of running water, &c.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 and naivete is even becoming : But this is a ha- 
 zardous attempt, and runs the risk of falling into 
 a mawkish inanity, — the last and lowest stage 
 of poetical declension. One of the greatest diffi- 
 culties in writing words for Scottish songs, is to 
 preserve the distinction between simplicity and 
 childishness. 
 
 But, above all, in adapting words to Scottish 
 melodies, the quality of ease is indispensable. 
 There must be no inversion, no involution, no 
 stiffness, no labour, no effort ; — the words must 
 come trippingli/ of the tongue, and seem to drop 
 into their places as if the utterer could not 
 help it. 
 
 But, in the third place, all these acquirements 
 will be unavailing towards the composition of 
 good words for Scottish songs, unless the com- 
 poser have a correct musical ear, — a taste which 
 can appreciate the charm of our Scottish music, 
 — and a perfect acquaintance with the particular 
 air which he supplies with words. He must sing 
 as he Avrites : — he must adapt his choice of words 
 to the various turns of the air : — In short, if the 
 words be not suggested and inspired by the air, 
 they will be good for nothing. 
 
 It is, doubtless, very desirable, as to written 
 songs, that they should both read well and sing 
 well ; yet the latter is by far the most essential
 
 Xll IJS'TRODUCTION. 
 
 merit, and to this tlie artist must chiefly devote 
 his care. Sometimes even a better word, as to 
 sense, must be discarded for a worse, if the eu- 
 l?hony of the one outweigh the s'lgmficancy of 
 the other. When these unite, it is doubtless 
 best of all. 
 
 The opinion and practice of Burns were en- 
 tirely conformable to the above views. In al- 
 luding to a particular song, in one of his letters 
 to Mr George Thomson, he says, — " I do not 
 know the air ; and until I am complete master of 
 the tune, in my own singing (such as it is), I 
 can never compose for it." And a little after, 
 in describing his mode of composition, he adds, 
 — " Humming, every noAv and then, the air, with 
 the verses I have framed." 
 
 This, in the Author's opinion, is perfectly 
 sound doctrine ; and he may add, that it is the 
 course which he has himself followed. But he 
 thinks it equally sound doctrine, as to judging 
 of such compositions. No one is qualified to ap- 
 prove or condemn, unless he sing as well as read. 
 
 In marshalling such an array of qualifications 
 towards the successful composition of words for 
 Scottish songs, the Author fears that he has only 
 shewn, in liow many points he is unequal to the 
 task which he has undertaken. But doctrine
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 should aim at perfection, however imperfect prac- 
 tice may be. His lessons may enable others to 
 succeed better than himself. 
 
 The Author of the following songs has no ac- 
 quaintance with music as a science. Whether 
 this has been a loss to him, in his present at- 
 tempt, he is not quite clear. He doubts whether 
 Burns Avould have w'ritten better Scottish songs, 
 had he possessed a more scientific knowledge of 
 music. The wood-notes wild might have been 
 less pure and genuine. 
 
 The Author has, in general, retained some of 
 the former words of the several songs ; and en- 
 deavoured to adapt his additions to their cha- 
 racter, and to that of the air. The old words 
 are associated with the air in our recollection, 
 and often give its name. Indeed we have, for 
 this practice, the high authority already quoted. 
 " This," says Burns (that is, retaining a part of 
 the old words), " has always a finer effect than 
 composing English words, — or words Avith an idea 
 foreign to the spirit of the old title. When old 
 titles convey any idea at all, they will generally 
 be found to be quite in the spirit of the air." * 
 
 No one acquainted with Scottish music can 
 doubt the truth of the above opinion, — that every 
 
 * In the following pages, the old ivords retained are printed 
 in Italics.
 
 XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 air has a sort of specific or prevailing character, 
 or sentiment, which it is the design of the music 
 to express. This character, or sentiment, it 
 shoukl be the first object of every one to discover, 
 who attempts to supply it with words ; and such, 
 accordingly, we learn from Burns, was his own 
 practice. And yet, while this is true, it is won- 
 derful what a power of adaptation many of our 
 melodies possess, to express sentiments of very 
 opposite kinds. Thus the well-known air of Hey 
 tiittie tatie is applied to the old roystering, drunk- 
 en, Jacobite song of Fill, Jill your bumpers high, 
 — to Burns' noble lyric of Scots ivha hae ivV 
 Wallace hied, — and to the tender and plaintive 
 words df The land of the leal : And although to 
 none of these sets of words does the air seem 
 absolutely uncongenial, yet the Author must own 
 that the last appear to him to express its most 
 pleasing and appropriate character. 
 
 Thus, also, many of our finest serious melo- 
 dies admit, with little loss of beauty, of a quick 
 movement ; — omitting the half notes, and dwell- 
 ing solely on the full and long-sounding notes, — 
 and thus approaching to what we, in Scotland, 
 call a Lilt. As instances of this may be given, 
 The Flowers of the Forest ; The Hush aboon 
 Traqnair ; The Braes o' Yarroiu ; Talc your 
 auld Cloak about ye ; The mill, mill, ; Comin'
 
 INThODUCTlON. XV 
 
 thro'' the ri/e, &c. The converse of this is also 
 true (as is occasionally remarked in the following 
 pages), that many of our lively airs, when svmg 
 or played slowly, and with expression, possess a 
 serious and even pathetic character. Instances 
 of this are, Saw ye Johnnie comhi. There's nae 
 luck about the house. The dusty Miller, and many 
 others. 
 
 To conclude : — The Author trusts that the fol- 
 lowing Poems will be found to possess a merit, 
 in which far greater masters have sometimes 
 failed ; — that of containing nothing which can 
 offend the most scrupulous delicacy, or render 
 them unworthy of the favour of that sex whose 
 approbation would be their highest reward.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. The Mill, Mill, 0, 1 
 
 II. Duncan Davison, 3 
 
 III. Low DOWN, AMANG THE BROOM, . . 5 
 
 IV. Mount and go, 7 
 
 V. Robin Adair, 9 
 
 VI. The Deuks dang ow'r my Daddy, . . 12 
 
 VII. My jo, Janet, 14 
 
 VIII. Jumpin' John, 19 
 
 IX. The weary fund o' Tow, ... 22 
 X. Dinna ask me gin I LOO ye (Comin' thro' 
 
 the rye), ...... 24 
 
 XI. The foul fa' the gear and the Blauthrie 
 
 o't, 25 
 
 XII. Ow'r the Water to Charlie, . . 27 
 
 XIII. Here 's a health to Bonny Charlie, . 29 
 
 XIV. My Barbarie, O, . . . " . .31 
 XV. WHAT can ail the Lads, I trow (Dainty 
 
 Davie) 34 
 
 XVI. Maggie Lauder, 
 XVII. The young Goodman, 
 XVIII. Willie was a Wanton Wag, 
 XIX. The Boatie rows. 
 
 36 
 39 
 41 
 
 44
 
 XVm CONTEXTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XX. The Sneeshin' Mill, .... 46 
 
 XXI. HOTCH-POTCH, 49 
 
 XXII. Johnny, I was dear (Dusty Miller), . 52 
 XXIII. There cam' a young Lad to my Daddy's 
 
 DOOR, 54 
 
 XXIV. There was a man, and he had a wife 
 
 (Same tune), ...... 58 
 
 XXV. I "m ow'r young foe wooin' yet, . . 60 
 
 XXVI. Loch Erroch Side, .... 62 
 
 XXVII. The Bard, No.l, . • . . .64 
 
 XXVIII. The Bard, No. 2, 67 
 
 XXIX. Lassie, will ye gang wi' me ? . . 69 
 
 XXX. The Merry Ploughman, ... 72 
 
 XXXI. The last time I came ow'r the moor, 75 
 
 XXXII. The Bush aboon Traqdair, ... 76 
 
 XXXIII. NiD, NID, Noddin', 78 
 
 XXXIV. Weell may the Maid be that marries 
 
 THE illLLER, 80 
 
 XXXV. Peggy, why that altered look ? 
 
 ( )TTiat is that to yo« ?) . . . .83 
 
 XXXVI. Johnny stays lano at the Fair, . . 85 
 
 XXXVII. Ow'r the Muir, amang the Heather, 88 
 
 XXXVIII. My Sailor's awa', .... 91 
 
 XXXIX. No Tom, no 93 
 
 XL. The Broom of the Cowden Knowes, . 95 
 
 XLI. The Lassie 's lost her silken snood, 97 
 
 Xlil I. The Yellow-hair'd Laddie, 98 
 
 XLIII. Whistle ow'r THE LAVE o't, . . 100 
 
 XLIV. O Lassie, ye say, ye canna get a tow, 102
 
 CONTENTS. XIX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XLV. Cauld Kail in Aberdeen, . . . 104 
 
 XLVI. The Banks o' Tweed, .... 106 
 
 XLVII. Lassie, can ye loo me {Carle, an' the King 
 
 come), ....... 108 
 
 XLVIII. My bonny Highland Lassie, 0, . . 110 
 
 XLIX. The love token, 112 
 
 L. Lassie o' my heart {Captain Kidd), . 114 
 
 LI. WIIA WAD LIPPEN TO THE WaRLD'S 
 
 helpin', 117 
 
 LIL Lassie, can ye think to leave me? . 119 
 
 LIII. Gentle Jeanie o' the Glen {Tibbie Fowler), 121 
 
 LIV. War Song of the Swiss, . . . 123 
 
 LV. The Irishman to his love {Oarrickfergus) 125 
 
 LVI. The Railway Garland (ie{ «Ae {oa,<«pa«s) 128 
 
 LVII. May-day Carol {Tyrolese Melody), . . 131 
 
 LVIII. A WREATH I BRING OF FLOWERETS RARE 
 
 {Hindoo Melody), . . . . .133
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 I. THE MILL, MILL, 0. 
 
 This is one of the sweetest of our Scottish melodies, when 
 sung moderately slow, and with expression. The words given 
 by Allan Ramsay, in his Tea-Table Miscellany (partly old, 
 and partly added by himself), are unfit for decent ears. Those 
 written by Burns for the air, " When wild war's deadly 
 blast was blawn," though extremely pretty in themselves, are 
 to be considered, from their length, rather as a Ballad than a 
 Song. 
 
 The last four lines of the following stanzas are taken from 
 the original words, which are of an earlier date than the age 
 of Ramsay. 
 
 1. 
 
 Sweet lass o' the mill, come tell me your will, 
 
 Can ye fancy a soger to win, ? 
 For since I hae seen thae bonny blue een 
 
 My heart is nae Linger my ain, 0. 
 I 've been to the wars, and dree'd clouts and scars, 
 
 But, at heart, I 'm as sound as the steel, ; 
 And mony bright een in my day have I seen, 
 
 But nane like the lass o' the mill, 0. 
 
 A
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 Can ye mak' up your mind to leave a' behind. 
 
 The pack and the wallet to hear, ? 
 Come weal or come woe, come friend or come foe. 
 
 The lot o' a soger to share, ? 
 Ay close by my side, whate'er may betide. 
 
 To wander the wood and the plain, ; 
 And at night lie at rest on your true soger's breast, 
 
 Secure that his heart is your ain, 0. 
 
 3. 
 
 .Johnny, they say, fause man will betray ; 
 
 But for you I will leave kith an' kin, ; 
 Tho' some be untrue, to think sae o' you 
 
 I wad count it a shame and a sin, : 
 Then heretak' my hand, and keep true to your band, 
 
 0' falsehood I winna hear tell, : 
 Be 't right or be 't wrang, wi' you I maun gang, 
 
 For J ne'er loo'd a lad but yoursell, 0. 
 
 4. 
 
 Then leave a' the rest for the lad you loo best. 
 
 And follow, and follow wi' me, ; 
 I'ack your pearlings sae braw for lands far awa', 
 
 Wide ow'r tho ragin' .sea, : 
 Thr mill, mill, 0, and the kill, kill, 0, 
 
 Tlie (•(>ij(iiu(i o' the wlwrl, 0, 
 The mrk and the sieve, and «' i/c maun leave, 
 And round wi^ a soifer reel, 0.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3 
 
 II. DUNCAN DAVISON. 
 
 To this pleasant and merry air, the Author has never heard 
 any words whicli he thinks worthy of it. Some are given in 
 Chambers"s Sotu/s of Scotland, vol. ii., p. 369, but they are not 
 of great merit. An attempt has, therefore, been made in the 
 following stanzas, to furnish a suitable hero for the song. 
 
 1. 
 
 Wi' reamin' swats, and hearty choer. 
 We welcome in the gude New Year ; 
 Then wha comes round, the fun to steer, 
 
 But canty Duncan Davison ? 
 He blaws his drone, and whisks about, 
 And reels wi' mony a roarin' shout, 
 And young and auld come rinnin' out 
 
 To bob wi' Duncan Davison. 
 
 2. 
 
 And then, the blade, he cracks sae crouse 
 When ruggin' at his Christmas goose ; 
 The blithest bairn about the house 
 
 Ne'er daft's like Duncan Davison : 
 To push around the whisky gill, 
 Or blaw the froth frae nappy yill, 
 Then toss it aif wi' right good will, 
 
 There's nane like Duncan Davison.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 
 Yestreen we met at Biukly Rabb's, 
 The night afore at limpiii' Habb's, 
 Then wha sae fu' o' sangs and gabbs 
 
 As hearty Duncan Davison ? 
 He set us a' in sic a roar, 
 The folk cam' gatherin* round the door, 
 And troth it ended in a splore 
 
 Wi' rantin' Duncan Davison. 
 
 4. 
 When brought afore aukl Bailie Clegg, 
 He look'd fu' blato, and made his leg, 
 But wha was e'er sae sharp and glegg 
 
 As pauky Duncan Davison ? 
 " Crude hail and aiutlmi ye maun bring :'" 
 " Na, troth, ye 's hae a better thing ; 
 I'll screw my pipes, and gi'e ye a spring," 
 
 Quo' spankin' Duncan Davison. 
 
 5. 
 His mithor, whirrin' athor wheel, 
 Cried " Duncan, ye 're a ne'er-do-wcdl ! 
 Ye 're gaun head-foremost to the Deil, 
 
 As sure 's your name is Davison !" 
 lie whisk 'd her up, and boltbM fu' fain, 
 And jigg'd her round and round again. 
 Till, a' forfeucht, she scarce could grane, 
 
 " The Deil 's in Duncan Davison !'
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 5 
 
 6. 
 Then come, iny hearties, hid and lass, 
 And round the rcekiu' cogie pass, 
 And, ane and a', tak' aff your glass 
 
 To dainty Duncan Davison : 
 For, seek braid Scotland round and luun', 
 By moss or muir, by dale or down, 
 By kintra side, or burrow town, 
 
 There's nane like Duncan Davison. 
 
 III. LOW DOWN, AMANa THE BROOM. 
 
 This beautiful Melody is of comparatively modern origin, 
 having, it is said, been composed by Sir Carnegie of Balnamoon, 
 a Forfarshire Laird, who was out with Prince Charles Ed- 
 ward, in the Forty-five.* It is one of the happiest imitations 
 of the simple beauty of the ancient Scottish melody which 
 has been jjroduced in later times. The original words were, 
 it is believed, by the same hand as the music ; but, with ex- 
 ception of the first stanza, and of the Bicrden, or Chorus, they 
 are scarcely worthy of the sweetness and delicacy of the air. 
 This has occasioned the following attemj)t to add to the first 
 stanza (which is excellent) three others, more in unison with 
 the music than those originally written. 
 
 1. 
 
 Mi/ ddddy he '« a cankered carle. 
 
 Ay countin'' at his gear ; 
 My minny she 's a scoldin' wife, 
 
 Hands a' the house asteer : 
 But let them say, or let them do,. 
 
 It 's a' ane to me ; 
 
 * Chambers's Scottislv Songs, vol. i., p. 173.
 
 6 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 For he 's low down, mmmg the broom, 
 
 That's ivaitin' on me. 
 That 's waitin' on me, my jo, 
 
 That 's waitin' on me ; 
 He 's low down, amang the broom, 
 
 Thnt 's waiting ou me. 
 
 2. 
 My daddy flytes, because tlie cow 
 
 She was na milkit soon ; 
 My minny threaps, e'er gloamin' fa', 
 My dizzen maun be done : * 
 But let them say, <fcc. 
 
 3. 
 Johnny, it was a' your w}i.e 
 
 That 1 forgat the cow ; 
 And I sit dreamin' ow'r my wheel, 
 A-thinkin' ay on you. 
 But let them say, dtc. 
 
 4. 
 But I 've a thought the tinu' will come, 
 
 A blither tale to tell, 
 When 1 will tent baith cow ;iinl wheel, 
 A heartsomo wife mysoU. 
 Then let them say, dr. 
 
 * To spin 11 dozen of .^Ai'/ji.* ^n• liankf of yiivw is ivckoned tt 
 pood darff, or day's woriv, for a young wonmn : — 
 
 " Till' I'oiiiitry lansio at licr wheel. 
 Hit ili7.7.eii ilone, »he '« miro v/evl."— Burnt.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 IV. MOUNT AND GO; 
 
 OR, 
 THE MORNING MARCH. 
 
 Three stanzas are given in Chambers's Scottish Sonijs, vol. ii., 
 p. 607, which seem to be intended for this air ; though they are 
 not precisely of the same measure as the following. Neither 
 are they so good as to preclude further attempts. From a foot- 
 note in Chamber.*, the air seems to be considered as of English 
 origin. That with which the Author has long been familiar. 
 — and to which the following words are adapted, — he always 
 considered as Scottish. It is lively and pleasant. 
 
 1. 
 
 Hark ! the bugle sounding cheerly ! 
 Cheerly taps the morning drum ! 
 AVaken, lass ! — Tlio sun shines clearly : 
 Quick! — the hour of march is come. 
 Mount and go ; — Mount and go ; — 
 
 Mount, and ay he ready : 
 Mount and go ; — Mount and go ; — 
 A gallant Sergeant's Lady. 
 
 Up the baggage : — Up the bairnics : — 
 All make ready for a start : — 
 
 Fetch the waggons round frae Cairnie's 
 Hoist the hampers on the cart. 
 Mount and go, dx.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 
 Blithely scud the little drum-boys : 
 
 Slowly toils the stalwart steed : 
 Sharp to muster! — Come, boys! — Come, boys!- 
 
 Call the roll ; — aud oft' we speed. 
 Mount and ao, <bc. 
 
 Over hill, aud over valley, 
 Ou by tower and town wo go ; 
 
 Now we rest, and now we rally, 
 Now in quick time, now in slow. 
 Mount and go, dec. 
 
 Colours Hying, -bugles sounding, — 
 Crowds luizzaing as we pass ; 
 
 Every heart with welcome bounding, — 
 Boy and grey-beard, — lad and lass. 
 Mount and go, dr. 
 
 Storm or sunshine, — ])right (ir dreary, - 
 Still we laugh at Fortune's spite ; 
 
 All day long, tho' wot and weary, 
 Oh ! lidw sweet our halt at nighl. 
 Mount and go, dr.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 9 
 
 7. 
 
 Up then, lass ! — the train is moving; — 
 
 Up and otf, my winsome wife : — 
 Shifting, stirring, rambling, roving, — 
 
 Who would change a soldier's life ? 
 Mount and go, dtc. 
 
 V. ROBIN ADAIR. 
 
 Whether this well-known and excellent air be of English 
 or Irish origin, the Author knows not; but he fears that Scot- 
 land can make no claim. She is, however, too rich in her 
 own treasures to envy or dispute the merits of her neighbours. 
 -After this full acknowledgment, the Author trusts that he 
 will be forgiven for adapting to the air words in our northern 
 dialect. The character of the air appears to him to combine 
 the Festive with the Tender; — and hence is not ill suited to a 
 meeting and recognition of old friends, as is attempted here. 
 The two sets of words written for it by Burns (Phillis the fair, 
 and Had I a cave on some wild distant shore) are on designs 
 so different from the following, that no competition can be 
 suspected. 
 
 1. 
 
 Welcome ! — You're welcome here ! 
 
 Robin Adair : 
 Come, — taste our Christmas cheer ; — 
 
 Come, — never spare. 
 Here is the lusty chine ; — 
 Here is the rosy wine ; — 
 Come, pledge a health to mine, 
 
 Robin Adair.
 
 10 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 Lang have we been acquaint, 
 
 Robin Adair ; 
 Since our young brows were brent, 
 
 Flaxen our hair ; 
 Thin are our haffits now ; 
 White is our frosty pow ; 
 Wrinkled our faded brow ; 
 
 Robin Adair. 
 
 3. 
 
 Yet the heart 's warm and leal, 
 
 Robin Adair ; 
 Yet Friendship's glow we feel 
 
 Ever the mair : 
 Come, — push the drink about ! — 
 Fancy wc 'ro young and stout ! — 
 Hoy for the jost and Hout ! — 
 
 Robin Adair. 
 
 1. 
 
 Blithe were our early days, 
 
 Robin Adair ; 
 Joy came a thousand ways, 
 
 Ne'er camo a care : 
 Rlithe was the morning light ; 
 niithe was the jovial night ;- 
 llopos, — fancies, — a' wore bright, 
 
 Robin Adair.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 11 
 
 5. 
 Tell me of a' the folks, 
 
 Robin Adair ; 
 Ned ay as fu' o' jokes, 
 
 Sym fu' o' care : 
 How do tlie C-Tordons thrive ? 
 Is Widow Walsli alive ? 
 Did auld Sandy ever ivive ? 
 
 Robin Adair ? 
 
 6. 
 Loud howls the winter storm, 
 
 Robin Adair ; 
 Here, cozey, couth, and warm. 
 
 We need na care ; 
 Let the loud tempest blaw, 
 Fast come the drivin' snaw, 
 We '11 baud the storm aAva ! 
 
 Robin Adair. 
 
 7. 
 Come, then, we '11 drink good night, 
 
 Robin Adair ; 
 Our spence is braw and bright ; 
 
 Ye shall sleep there : 
 Come, friend, your cogie clear ; 
 Come, join the jovial cheer ; 
 Here 's to the good New Year, 
 
 Robin Adair.
 
 12 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 VI. THE DBUKS DANG OW'R MY DADDY. 
 
 This well-known and familiar air, the Author thinks simple 
 and pretty. Chambers, vol. ii., p. 668, gives only one stanza 
 of the words, which differs somewhat from the first of the fol- 
 lowing. The rest are added with the view of bringing out 
 the object of the song, wliich seems to be that of portraying 
 the character of a Daidlin Body ; — that is, one who is always 
 in the way, and always in the wrong, — always falling into 
 one unlucky scrape or another. 
 
 Burns has written words for this air, beginning — The bairns 
 ■tat out ivi' an unco shout ; but they are none of his best. The 
 first two lines of the stanza form the first j)art of the air, the 
 last two the second part. Each part, from its shortness, may 
 be sung twice. 
 
 In the recent valuable publication of Wood's Songs of Scot- 
 land (vol. ii., p. 8), the present name is given to a quite dif- 
 ferent air, which is not adapted to the following words, and 
 wliicb the Author has always heard called by the name of My 
 Highland Lassie, 0. 
 
 1. 
 
 Th^ nine-pint can dang oiv'r the gudeman, 
 The deuks dang ow'r my daddii : 
 
 The nine-pint can, dr. 
 
 It '.s nae muckle matter, qno' onr goodxvife, 
 For he was hut a daidlin'' hody, 
 
 It '.s nae muckle matter, dr. 
 
 rii 
 
 lie iiii(l(len-steii(l mire's ayont the byre, 
 And there coU|)it in my Daddy; 
 
 The inidden-stcad mire, &e.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 13 
 
 It canna be helpit, quo' our Goodwife, 
 
 He was ay but a daiclliu' body. 
 It canna be helpit, &c. 
 
 3. 
 
 His pipe he took at the chimley neuk, 
 And he brunt his breeks, my Daddy : 
 
 His pipe, &c. 
 
 The aukl donnert carle ! quo' our Goodwife, 
 Was e'er sic a daidliu' body. 
 
 The auld, &c. 
 
 4. 
 
 My Daddy gaed down to the burrow town, 
 
 And he tint himsell, my Daddy : 
 My Daddy, &c. 
 But ay he cam hack, like the auld ill plack ; — ■ 
 
 Ye '11 ne'er lose a daidlin'' body. 
 But ay, &c, 
 
 5. 
 
 He doitit by, at milkin' the kye. 
 
 And he whaml'd the stoup, my Daddy : 
 
 He doitit by, &c. 
 
 He 's ne'er out o' mischief, quo' our Goodwife, 
 The foul fa' the daidlin' body. 
 
 He 's ne'er, &c. 
 
 6. 
 
 He fell, gaw'n ben, ow'r the auld pet hen, 
 
 And he smoor'd her cleckin', my Daddy ; 
 He fell, gaw'n ben, &c. 
 
 B
 
 14 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 The sorrow gae wi' him, quo' our C-roodwife, 
 
 The Deil's in the daidh'u^ bodi/. 
 The sorrow gae wi' him, &c. 
 
 VII. MY JO, JANET; 
 
 ou, 
 THE PRUDENT LOVER. 
 
 This is one of the best known, and most relished, of our 
 Scottish songs. The air is good ; but still better the pregnant 
 sense, and quiet humour, of the words. The Author has given 
 all that he ever heard of the old words ; and has ventured, 
 somewhat boldly, to add a few stanzas, carrying on the dia- 
 logue between the young coujjle in the same prudent spirit as 
 the original. His additions are interjected between the be- 
 ginning and concluding stanzas of the old words. Burns hii> 
 written new words to this air — Husband: Husband! cease your 
 Hrife, v^c. : but they are on an entirely different design. 
 
 1. 
 
 Simet Sir, for your courtesy. 
 
 When ye come thro' the town, Sir 
 And for the hive ye bear to me, 
 
 Buy me a pair o' shoon. Sir : — 
 ('lout the mtid — the new 's de/ir, 
 
 Janet, Janet; 
 A pair m^y serve ye luilf a year, 
 ^fy jo, Janet.
 
 SCOTTISH MKLODIES. 15 
 
 2. 
 
 But what if danciii^ on the green, 
 
 And skippin' like a maukin, 
 My^ doutit shoon they shouhl be seen, 
 
 Then folk wad a' be talkin' ? — 
 Dance laigh, and late at e'en, 
 
 Janet, Janet: 
 Then a' your fauts will no be seen. 
 My jo, Janet. 
 
 3. 
 
 Sweet Sir, for your courtesy, 
 
 When ye come thro'' the Pass, Sir : 
 And for the hive ye bear to me. 
 
 Buy me a keekin'' glass, Sir : — 
 Keek into the draw-tveU, 
 
 Janet, Janet; 
 And there ye HI see your bonny sell. 
 My jo, Janet. 
 
 4. 
 
 But, keekin' in the draiv-ivell clear, 
 
 What if I shou'dfa' in. Sir ? 
 Then a' my friends ivad say and swear 
 
 I drown' d my sell for sin. Sir : — 
 Haud the better by the brae, 
 
 Janet, Janet; 
 Then nae ane will hae ought to say, 
 My jo, Janet.
 
 16 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 5. 
 
 Sweet Sir, for your courtesy, 
 
 When ye come frae the Fair, Sir ; 
 Aud for your luve, bring hame to me 
 
 A snood to bind my hair, Sir : — 
 Snood it wi' a corkin' preen, 
 
 Janet, Janet ; 
 For that will baud frae morn to e'en, 
 My jo, Janet. 
 
 6. 
 
 But what if a' my tap come down, 
 
 When round my head I'm jinkin', 
 Then ilka anc about the town 
 
 Wad say I had been drinkin' : 
 Ne'er jink your head, nor jig your chin, 
 
 Janet, Janet ; 
 
 Still without is staid within, 
 
 My jo, Janet. 
 
 Sweet Sir, for a sma' propine, 
 
 When ye come through the market. 
 Buy me twa braids o' Holland tine, 
 
 For, troth, I 'm scrimply sarkit : — 
 Siller 's scant, and llolhuid 's rare, 
 
 Janet, Janet ; 
 Wha wad want but sarks a pair, 
 My jo, Janet ?
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 17 
 
 8. 
 
 A pair o' sarks, I ueeds iiiauii say, 
 
 Is but a snia' providin' ; 
 And, till the weekly washin'-day, 
 
 It's unco lang abidin' : — 
 Saip 's risin' at the trone, 
 
 Janet, Janet ; 
 T'aue will wash when t'ither's on, 
 My JO, Janet. 
 
 9. 
 
 Sweet Sir, tor your courtesy. 
 
 When ye come by Dumblane, Sir, 
 And, for your favor, bring to me 
 
 A cloak to kep the rain, Sir : — 
 When it 's drappin', bide within, 
 
 Janet, Janet ; 
 That's the time to sit and spin, 
 My jo, Janet. 
 
 10. 
 
 But I maun tramp it on my feet. 
 When to the kirk I gang. Sir, 
 And if it cam' a blash o' weet, 
 
 I cou'd na tak' but wrang. Sir ; 
 Jouk, and let the jaw gae ow'r, 
 
 Janet, Janet ; 
 Ye winna melt wi' ilka shower. 
 My jo, Janet.
 
 18 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 11. 
 
 Sweet Sir, for your courtesy, 
 
 When ye come by the cross, Sir, 
 And for the luve ye bear to me, 
 
 Buy me a pacin'' horse. Sir : — 
 Pace upon your spinnin^ wheel, 
 
 Janet, Janet; 
 For that ivill set ye just as weell, 
 My jo, Janet. 
 
 12. 
 My spinnin' wheel 's grown auld and stiff, 
 
 It winna work nae mair. Sir ; 
 To keep the temper-pin in tiff 
 
 It fashes mefu' sair, Sir: — * 
 J/afc' the best o H that ye can, 
 
 Janet, Janet; 
 
 But like it, never ivale a man, 
 
 My jo, Janet. 
 
 * A small change has been here made, to avoi<l an /■■luirvim- 
 in the original.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 10 
 
 VIII. JUMPIN' JOHN ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE WELCOME HOME. 
 Tune — The lang lad they ca^ Jumpin John. 
 
 This air is simple and pleasing. The old words given by 
 Chambers (vol. ii., p. 607) are rude, and otherwise objection- 
 able. The following are upon a totally different design. 
 
 1. 
 
 It 's a lang time, it 's a lang time, 
 
 It 's a lang time, quo' he ; 
 It 's a lang time, billy Jumpin' John, 
 Sin' ye gaed tVae the West Countrie. 
 When baii'ns thegither, 
 We took to ither. 
 An' wha sae thick as we ? 
 It's a lang time, hilly Jumpin' John, 
 Sin' ye gaed frae the West Countrie. 
 
 2. 
 
 Ye 're welcome hame, and ye' ro welcome hame, 
 
 Ye 're welcome hame to me ; 
 Come, sit 'tween me and my good auld Dame, 
 
 For a good auld friend are ye :
 
 20 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 We poukit the slaes 
 
 About the braes, 
 As blithe as blithe eou'd be : 
 It 's a lang time, billy Jumpin' John, 
 Sin' ye gaed frae the West Countrie. 
 
 Ye '11 miud, I weeu, o' the Jumpin' Green, 
 
 That brought baith big an' wee ; 
 And ye did best amang the rest, 
 And bure awa the gree. 
 
 Then, King o' the Game, 
 Ye gat your name. 
 When young, an' souple, an' spree : 
 It 's a lang time, billy Jumpin' John, 
 Sin' ye gaed frae the West Countrie. 
 
 We 've toil'd for bread, but sma' our speed, 
 
 Like ither folk we see ; 
 Yet ay we've keepit up our liead 
 A boon cauld povertie. 
 We're scant o' cheer 
 To end the year, 
 But what we hae wo will gie : 
 It's a lang time, billy Jumpin John, 
 Sin' ye gaed frae the AVest Countrie.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 21 
 
 5. 
 
 There 's mony awa, baith great an' siiia' ; 
 . For a' their weird maun dree ; 
 An' Death, he maks nae odds ava' 
 'Tween high and low degree. 
 0, mony we've tint, 
 And few behint ; 
 They're no aboon twa or three ; 
 It's a long time, billy Jumpin' John, 
 Sin' ye gaed frae the "West Countrie. 
 
 6. 
 
 Draw in your seat, and steer the peat. 
 
 An' taste our barley-broe ; 
 In troth, man, but it's blithe to meet 
 Ance mair before we dee. 
 Ye 're welcome hame, 
 For ye're ay the same. 
 Ye 're welcome ow'r the sea : 
 Ye 're welcome hame, billy Jumpin' John, 
 Safe back to the West Countrie.
 
 22 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 IX. THE WEARY FUND 0' TOW. 
 
 The following stanzas were written for tliis pleasant air 
 before the Author was aware that Burns had written words 
 for it ; — at least he is stated as the author of those printed in 
 Wood's Son^s (vol. i., p. 141); although Chambers (vol. ii., 
 p. 561), in giving the same words, does not state Burns to be 
 the author; — nor do they occur in the edition of his works 
 printed in London in 1825. The following words are, how- 
 ever, written on a somewhat different design, and may be 
 allowed to appear. The chorus or burden is old. 
 
 1. 
 
 Thro' a' braid Fife, was ne'er a wife 
 
 Sao eideut, sure, as mine ; 
 For ay she wheel'd, and ay she rerlM, 
 And scarce wad tak' her dine. 
 
 The weary pund, the weary pund. 
 
 The weary pund o' toiv ! 
 I thoiujht my wife wad end her life, 
 Before she span her tow. 
 
 2. 
 
 Frae morniii' li.ii'ht, till ton at nitjlit, 
 
 AVhen bells began to jow, 
 Nae caro in life could win my wife 
 
 To leave her taps o' tow. 
 The tvcary pund, dr.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 23 
 
 3. 
 
 The wiud blew gruff, an' tirled the roof, 
 
 The stack was in a low ; 
 But ne'er a bit wad she demit 
 
 Frae teazin' at her tow. 
 
 The iveary piind, dr. 
 
 4. 
 
 The bairn it fell into the well ; 
 
 The tyke he worried the yow ; 
 " Clet up !" cried we ; — " Na, na," quo' she, 
 
 " I canna leave my tow." 
 The tveart/ pund, &c. 
 
 5. 
 
 The rock and pin she twisted in, 
 
 To gar the napery grow ; 
 An' counted ow'r her hindmost score, 
 
 To heap her hanks o' tow. 
 The weary pund, dx. 
 
 6. 
 
 When ought gaed wrang, she croou'd a sang, 
 
 An' skartit at her pow ; 
 But ill or weell, she whirled her wheel. 
 
 An' teaz'd her taps o' tow. 
 The weary pund, dec.
 
 24 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 7. 
 Till grim Death came, and sent her hame 
 
 Foot-foremost ow'r the knowe ;* 
 And so my wife did end her life 
 Before she span her tow. 
 The weary pund, dc. 
 
 X. DINNA ASK ME GIN I LOO YE. 
 
 Tune — Comin' thro' the rye. 
 
 This is a very pleasing melody ; and, when sung with taste, 
 possesses great delicacy of feeling and expression. The words 
 commonly given are quite unworthy of it : nor are those of 
 Burns, Comin' thro'' the rye, poor body, &c., by any means for- 
 tunate. There are words given for the air, in Chambers, vol. ii., 
 p. 494, beginning with the first four of the following lines. 
 These are pretty, and well adapted to the air; but the after 
 stanzas are inferior. It has, therefore, been attempted to sup- 
 ply their place. 
 
 1. 
 
 Dinna ask me gin I loo ye : 
 
 Deed I dmir na tell : 
 Dinna ask vie gin I loo yc ; 
 
 Ask it o' yourscll. 
 Gin your heart he cauld or rovin', 
 
 I the (lool maun droo ; 
 But if that it he hal and lovin'. 
 
 Think the same o' me. 
 
 • This line is nearly taken from the former words.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 25 
 
 2. 
 
 Johnny, aince yo said ye loo'd me ; 
 
 Ne'er ye spak again ; 
 Wad yo ken my heart, Johnny, 
 
 Judge it by your ain. 
 Ijuve frae luve its tlame maun borrow, 
 
 Cauld breeds cauld, I trow ; 
 But if ye'd live my winsome marrow, 
 
 I could dee for you. 
 
 XI. THE FOUL FA' THE GEAR, AND THE 
 BLAUTHRIE O'T. 
 
 This air is not without beauty and expression. There are 
 old words given for it in Chambers (vol. i., p. 303), but of 
 merit so moderate as not to discourage further attempts. Tlie 
 air is alluded to by Mr Dauney, in his learned and valuable 
 Uissertation on the Sk-ene Manuscript, p. 369; but he seems 
 doubtful of its great antiquity. 
 
 1. 
 
 wae to the wanworth, the hard scrapin' elf, 
 Wha thinks but o' hoardin', and hainin' his pelf: 
 He trows himsell fu' wise ; — I trow he 's but a sot, 
 To warstle for the gear, and the blauthrie o 't.
 
 26 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 2. 
 
 But auld-warld kindness is sair wearin' done ; 
 And hearts are as hard as the sole o' your shoon ; 
 An' true-luve it grows cauld,an' friends they are forgot ; 
 A-grippin' at the gear, and the blauthrie o 't. 
 
 3. 
 
 I helpit a friend, when his back was at the wa' ; 
 Syne, I wantit his help for a guinea or twa ; 
 He turn'd me his cauld shouther, an' wadna gie a groat ; 
 Sae, the foul fa' the gear, and the blauthrie o 't. 
 
 4. 
 
 I woo'd a bonny lassie, — the light o' my een, — 
 And thought wedded luve wad bo heaven wi' my Jean : 
 She speer'd what feck o' siller I had to boil the pot: — 
 Oh ! — the foul fa' the gear, and the blauthrie o 't. 
 
 5. 
 
 There's some maun hae feastings, an' some maun hao 
 
 braws, 
 And some hae their coach, when it rains or it snaws : 
 But, sae lang 's I hae a penny to buy mo a coat, 
 r 11 whistle at the gear, and the blauthrie o't. 
 
 6. 
 
 Thou hero 's to the heart that is loyal and leal, 
 And seeks na for siller, — the gift o' the Doil ; 
 In poortith I can fond, and, contontit wi' my lot, 
 Sing, The, foul f(C the (jmr, an' the hhmthrir o '/.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 27 
 
 XII. OWR THE WATER TO CHARLIE. 
 
 Whatever might be the merits of the Jacobite cause, on the 
 score of policyand civil government, there can be nodoubt of its 
 triumph over its rival in Poetry and Song. The reason proba- 
 bly is, that these last derive their inspiration from the heart, ra- 
 ther than the head : And the fortunes of Charles-Edward were 
 calculated to engage the feelings far more strongly than those 
 of his prosaic and uninteresting competitor, George II. It is 
 really surprising how many beautiful melodies have sprung 
 from the outbreaks of Fifteen and Forty-jive. The present is 
 one of the most pleasing and popular ; but the original words 
 are far inferior to the music. A set of these is given in a 
 Collection of English and Scottish Songs published in London 
 in 1835, and dedicated to Allan Cunningham (vol. ii., p. 148) ; 
 but no part of them is retained in the following stanzas, ex- 
 cept the two concluding lines. 
 
 1. 
 
 fair befa' the heroes a', 
 
 That, braving every danger, 
 Frae ruthless hands, and traitor hands, 
 
 Preserv'd our gaHant stranger : 
 At length, wi' toil, thro' rock and isle, 
 
 When winds were blawin' fairly, 
 We shipp'd him o'er to yonder shore. 
 
 And sav'd our Royal Charlie. 
 
 2. 
 
 Sure Heaven did aid that noble Maid* 
 
 To rescue and relieve him ; 
 And fear and gain were tried in vain 
 
 To tempt one Scot to leave him ; 
 
 * Flora Macdonald.
 
 28 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 On sea oi- shore, — by wild or moor, — 
 111 fed, and clad fu' barely, 
 
 A' hardships thro', nae follower true 
 Deserted Royal Charlie. 
 
 3. 
 Accurs'd for ay the fatal day ! 
 
 Accurs'd the dreary morning ! 
 That made us yield Culloden tield 
 
 To Saxons proud and scoruing : 
 Of a' bereft, — yet He was left, — 
 
 Our hope, — tho' blighted sairly : 
 A noble few, — 'mid danger true, 
 
 They rescued Royal Charlie. 
 
 4. 
 But tho' the reel o' Fortune's wheel 
 
 Has borne him to tho wa' man. 
 Your heart keep up, and drain a cup 
 
 To German Geordie's la' man : 
 For, late or soon, yon Hanover loon. 
 
 We tell him free and fairly, — 
 We '11 draw once more the good claymore, 
 
 And fecht a fa' for Charlie. 
 
 5. 
 Tho' Itanisird far l»y chance o' war, 
 
 Wo ay will follow and cheer him : 
 By land or sea, — where'er ho be, — 
 
 It 's comfort to be near him :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 29 
 
 Then hoist our sail afore the gale, 
 
 The breeze is rising rarely, 
 Come weell, come woe, we 'II gather and go, 
 
 And live and die wt Charlie. 
 
 XIII. HERE'S A HEALTH TO BONNY 
 CHARLIE. 
 
 Tune — Here's a health to Wittol Oeordie. 
 
 This is another shaft from the .Jacobite quiver. The origi- 
 nal words are scarcely producible ; and are, by no means, 
 complimentary to the House of Hanover : ])Ut as the air is 
 pleasant (though not equal to the last), the author has supplied 
 it with a few verses, characteristic, but less offensive. The old 
 chorus or burden is retained in the two concluding lines of each 
 stanza. 
 
 1. 
 
 Here 's a health to bonny Charlie, 
 
 The' he be far awa' ; 
 Ayont the saut sea roaniin', 
 
 Wi' neither house uoi' ha' : 
 But we '11 get hame our King again. 
 
 In peace and unitie ; 
 And we HI crown Charlie Stuart 
 
 In his ain countrie. 
 
 c2
 
 30 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 2. 
 
 When he was ow'r amaug lis, 
 
 0, but our hearts were fain, 
 And soon, we hope, the time will come 
 
 To fecht for him again : 
 And mony a darg an' danger yet 
 
 For his sake will we dree ; 
 And we 'II crown Charlie Stuart 
 
 In his ain countrie. 
 
 3. 
 
 Our bairns about the ingle 
 
 They liichter at his name ; 
 And, when for him we 've done our best. 
 
 They '11 up an' do the same : 
 And a' true-hearted Ilighlandnien 
 
 In concert will agree 
 To crown Charlie Stuart 
 
 In his ain countrie. 
 
 4. 
 
 But, as for Gorman Cxeordio, 
 
 We '11 Hoat him ow'r the faeni ; 
 To delve his wee kail-yoardie, 
 
 An' clout his hose at hamc : 
 Sic hafliin gentles on our throne, 
 
 We canna bido to see, 
 Hut we'll crown Charlie Stuart 
 
 III hiff ain countrie.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 31 
 
 5. 
 
 Theu, tlio' we lost ae venture, 
 
 We '11 yet anither try ; 
 Again our highland hills and glcus 
 
 Shall hear our Gatheriwj-cry : 
 And, sharp and sore, our good claymore. 
 
 Shall gar the Southrons flee ; 
 And we'll crown Charlie Stuart 
 
 In his ain conntrie. 
 
 XTV. MY BARBARIE, 0; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE NIGHT-WOOING. 
 
 Of this sweet and simple melody the Author can give no 
 account, but that he has known it, from his earliest years, by 
 the above name. He recollects but few of the original words, 
 and they are of little merit. He has here ada2)ted the air to 
 the song of a rustic lover, describing his night-journey to visit 
 his mistress. This practice of night-ivooing is common among 
 our Scottish peasantry. Indeed, it is the only opportunity 
 which they have for such objects, amidst their incessant la- 
 bours ; and extraordinary distances do they often traverse, on 
 these errands, after a long day of toil. A tragic incident oc- 
 curred, some years ago, in the west of Scotland, on an occa- 
 sion of this kind. A young man of two-and-twenty, the son 
 of a respectable farmer, set off on such an expedition, after 
 the labour of a summer day ; and reached the abode of his 
 mistress, ten miles off, about midnight. He had an inter- 
 view with her, but was unsuccessful in his suit. She jire- 
 ferred another. He parted from her with apparent calmness ; 
 but next morning, at sunrise, was seen suspended from a tree 
 close by the house, and quite dead. He had entered the stable
 
 32 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 and got a rope, on which he made a running noose ; and had 
 completed his purpose with such desperate resolution, that, 
 when found, his knees were bent, and his feet resting on the 
 ground. 
 
 1. 
 
 Now rings* the wintei' eliill, 
 The wind blaws loud and shrill, 
 And the moon looks ow'r the hill 
 
 0' auld Carberrie, : 
 I 've wrought the weary day, 
 And the folk are at their play ; 
 But I maun hand my way 
 
 To my Barbarie, 0. 
 
 lang, lang is the gate, 
 The night is wearin' late. 
 And the waters in a spate, 
 
 Wildly raciu', racin', : 
 But, hastiu' to my dear, 
 
 1 laugh at every fear, 
 
 And thro' the storm will steer, 
 Bauldly faciu', facin', 0. 
 
 3. 
 
 The lift is stern and stour, 
 And wide and waste the moor, 
 And shapes unearthly glower. 
 
 There abidin', Mjidin', : 
 
 • It is a common expression of the Scottish peasantry, in 
 winter, that There's a ritKjin frost in the air. Thomson, in his 
 Winter, uses the expression — " Loud rinya the frozen eurtli."
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 3 
 
 And, liy the moon's wan liclit, 
 They flee afore the sicht, 
 And on the clouds o' nicht, 
 
 Will be ridin', ridin', 0. 
 
 4. 
 
 But Lave, he conquers a', 
 An' dangers, great or sma', 
 We count at uoclit ava', 
 
 When the heart is willin', : 
 Sae, I will hand my way, 
 Betide, betide what may ; 
 And be ))ack afore the day, 
 
 Without telliu', tellin', 0. 
 
 6. 
 lassie, lassie, sweet ! 
 It 's blithesome when we meet ; 
 For you I daur the weet, 
 
 An' the bitter, blindin' snaw : 
 Tho' soil'd wi' dub an' lair. 
 An' tash'd an' droukit sair, 
 It 's a' made up, an' mair. 
 
 By a kiss ahint the wa'. 
 
 6. 
 Then Luve and Hope to cheer, 
 I '11 aff and meet my dear ; 
 The moon is shinin' clear 
 
 Ow'r auld Carberrie, :
 
 34 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 And she '11 baud up her flame, 
 Ay steady a' the same, 
 An' light me canny hame 
 
 Frae my Barbaric, 0. 
 
 XV. 0, WHAT CAN AIL THE LADS, I TROW ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE UNBIDDEN FAIR. 
 
 Tune — Dainty Davy. 
 
 This is one of the pleasantest, and most familiar, of our lively 
 tunes. Burns has written words for it, with the chorus, ilMt 
 me on the warlock knowe, &c. ; but they are on a totally differ- 
 ent design from the present. 
 
 1. 
 
 0, what can ail the lads, I trow, 
 Or what can be the matter, now, 
 That fient a ane comes here to woo, 
 
 Tho' I am brawly giftit? 
 For hero 1 sit, forlorn an' wae, 
 While duels are passin' a' the day : — 
 But maidens are like middens, tliey 
 
 Maun lye till thoy are liftit. 
 
 What can ail the lads, I trow, 
 Djur aa' dorti/, dour an' dorti/ ; 
 
 What can ail the lads, I trow, 
 Thcif ivinna come to woo me.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 35 
 
 2. 
 
 There 's Jessy o' the Gowan-lea, — 
 
 VYha e'er wad even her to me ? 
 
 Yet she has sweethearts, twa or three, 
 
 While I am left a-wantin' .* 
 But that 's the way the jads get on ; 
 An' that 's the way the lads are won ; 
 At fair an' market, kirk an' trone, 
 
 They 're ta'en by gallivantin'. 
 What can ail, <tc. 
 
 3. 
 
 But I sing dool, the house within, 
 An' bake the scones, an' shew, an' spin 
 Some canny kimmer syne draps in, 
 
 To speer how we are fairin' : 
 I wat we gie 't the hizzies then. 
 For gigglin' out amang the men ; 
 And o' their birkies, afterhen'. 
 
 In troth, we are na sparin'. 
 But what can ail, <&c. 
 
 4. 
 
 An' whiles we tak, when a' is done, 
 A drap to keep the heart aboon ; 
 For ne'er a lad will fyle his shoon 
 Wi' comin' to my dwelling :
 
 36 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 Tho' I am furtliy, brisk, an' braw, 
 Yet ay the wanworths bide awa' ; — 
 The Deil gao Avi' them, — ane an' a', — 
 The spite o' t 's past tlie tellin'. 
 What can ail, d;c. 
 
 XVI. MACiaiB LAUDER; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE DESPAIKING SWAIN. 
 
 This is one of the best known and most popular of our lively 
 airs ; — yet, like many others of these, when played or sung 
 slow, and with good taste, it possesses a considerable degree 
 of expression and delicacy. The usual words are coarse, even 
 beyond burlesque ; and although the following by no means 
 aspire to the praise of dignity or refinement, yet it is hoped 
 that the spirited character of the heroine has been preserved, 
 without any breach of decorum. 
 
 1. 
 
 Line ! how snell ye pruve, 
 
 To keep puir sauls a-dwinin' : 
 Wi' heart sair, and fu' o' care, 
 
 Wo canna help repinin' : 
 ITor scornful o'e it geeks at mo, 
 
 Wha to tho lift applaud hor ; 
 But I 'm a fool to dree sic dool 
 
 Frae cruel Maggie Laudor. 
 
 Jiut wha wadna be in luve 
 Wr bonny Maijijie Lauder ?
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 37 
 
 Wha wadna be in luve 
 
 Wi^ bonny Maggie Lauder ? 
 
 Her scornfu' ee it geeks at me, 
 Wha to the lift applaud her : 
 
 But Vm a fool to dree sic dool 
 Frae cruel Maggie Lauder. 
 
 2. 
 
 At Anster Fair we baith war' there, 
 
 Where lads an' lasses cheery, 
 Cam' busk'd in braws, by threes au' twas, 
 
 Ilk ane to meet their deary : 
 1 snoovled up, wi' creepin' pace, 
 
 An' to the dance I bade her ; — 
 She snapt her fingers in ray face,— 
 
 " Tak' that frae Maggie Lauder." 
 Rut wha tvadna, dr. 
 I snoovled up, dtc. 
 
 3. 
 
 pride ! ye 're ill to bide 
 
 Frae haughty woman's scornin' : 
 Tt yerks me sair, baith late an' air, 
 
 Frae weary night till mornin'. 
 She looks as hie as if that she 
 
 Sud match the Laird o' Cawdor ; 
 But nae kind ee will licht on me 
 
 Frae saucy Maggie Lauder. 
 But wha wadna, <bc. 
 She looks as hie, dbc.
 
 38 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 4. 
 
 The lads, afore the sraiddy door, 
 
 About their joes war' vauntin' ; 
 And, in the thrang, some did her wrang 
 
 Wi' jibin' and wi' tauntin' : 
 I swore I 'd fecht him for a crown, 
 
 Whaever had misca'd her : — 
 Quo' she, — " I want na sic a loon 
 
 " To fecht for Maggie Lauder." 
 But wha wadna, dec. 
 I swore I'd fecht, <tc. 
 
 5. 
 Yestreen, Avhen I had ta'en a drap, 
 
 My heart was loupin' finely ; 
 I met her at the Nethor-slap, 
 An', she look'd divinely ! 
 1 wad hae pree'd her bonny niou", 
 
 An' speer'd her what forbade her : — 
 " Hand alf, ye sow! — Ye'rebletherin' fou' !"- 
 Quo' (U)i'ty Maggie Lauder. 
 But wha wadna, tfcf. 
 / tvad hae pree'd, dr. 
 
 6. 
 0, when will trouble en', 
 
 Ilk joy an' pleasure baulkin' ? 
 I gang, amaist, like to a ghaist, 
 
 Or restless spirit walkin' :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 39 
 
 In ilk good thing this warld can bring 
 
 I frocly wad uphaiul her ; 
 But oh ! wi' speid, she'll be my deid, 
 This cruel Maggie Lauder. 
 But wha ivadua, dtc. 
 In ilk good thinq, d:c. 
 
 XVII. THE YOUNa GOODMAN. 
 
 Tune— ?%e Flowers of Edinburgh. 
 
 This is a cheerful and pleasant air, but, from its complex 
 character, it has not the appearance of great antiquity. The 
 Author never heard words to it of any kind. 
 
 1. 
 
 We hae na gowd, we hae na niony braws, 
 We hae na a house wi' bonny biggit wa's; 
 But we 've a bit bield when the winter wind it blaws, 
 And sae we may be proud and be dainty, : 
 We hae na mickle cheer 
 To keep the pat asteer ; 
 Yet, tho' we be na sweer. 
 We '11 be tenty, : 
 
 An' we dinna grudge a share 
 0' a' that we can spai-e ; 
 An' freely wad gie niair, 
 Had we plenty, 0.
 
 40 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 It 's no a house, or bonny braid o' land, 
 It 's no the clink o' siller in your hand, 
 That peace o' mind or pleasure can command, 
 Altho' ye had them a' for the wissiu', : 
 When ance avc hae enough, 
 Tho' toilin' at the plough. 
 We '11 never gie a sugh 
 Ought 's a-missin', ; 
 
 But we '11 do wi' what is sent, 
 An', thankfu' thereanent. 
 We '11 sweeten 't wi' content 
 For a blessin', 0. 
 
 Your Dad was dour, an' wadna 'gree ava' ; 
 He wantit a carle wi' land, an' gowd, an' a' ; 
 i\nd nocht ho reck'd o' the luve atween us twa 
 For ay upo' the gear he was thinkin', : 
 But we watlna be gainsaid ; 
 We sought nae ither aid ; 
 And a cainiy trick we play'd 
 In the jinkin', : 
 
 The moon she was oui- guide ; 
 Tlic lucky Uiioi was tied; 
 And ye stood my Itonuy bride 
 In a l»linkin\ O.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 41 
 
 4. 
 Three years, sweet Nan, hae quickly come an' gane 
 Sin' lialy bands in luve hae made us ane ; 
 Nor strife, nor jar, atween us never nane. 
 Altho' the warld's gear was but scanty, : 
 But here's a braw wee chiel. 
 As wild as ony Deil, 
 That up my neck does spiel, 
 Grouse and canty, : 
 
 And ye 're my winsome wife, 
 The comfort o' my life ; 
 An', when blessings are sae rife, 
 I '11 be vaunty, 0. 
 
 XVIII. WILLIE WAS A WANTON WAGf. 
 
 This air, — one of the most pleasant and animated that we 
 possess, — is stated by Chambers (vol. i., p. 300) to be the pro- 
 duction of Mr Walkinshaw of Walkinshaw, in Renfrewshire. 
 The words given in Allan Ramsay's Tea-TaUe Miscellany are 
 also said to be by the same hand. But although they well 
 express the eminently saltatory character of the air, they are 
 in some respects objectionable. The same design is preserved 
 in the following stanzas; but the first is the only one bor- 
 rowed (though with a slight variation) from the former 
 verses. 
 
 1. 
 
 0, Willie was a wanton toaij, 
 
 The blithest lad that e'er I saw, 
 A t hridals brave he bure the l>ra(j, 
 
 And carried ay the pree awa' :
 
 42 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 Sae weel put on was ilka rag, 
 
 His coat sae smart, his cap sae hraw ; 
 
 And on his shoulder hung a tag, 
 Thai pleas' d the lasses best of a\ 
 
 2. 
 
 For iiaue to liiiu was worth a magg, 
 
 Wheu up we stood, a' raug'd in raw ; 
 Sae smart, sae spree, without a clagg, 
 
 He look'd the king amang them a' ; 
 And ay he loupit like a stag. 
 
 While bonny eeu their glances staw ; 
 And ay the gallant shoulder tag 
 
 It pleas'd the lassos best of a'. 
 
 3. 
 
 When hearty thro' tin- dnmin'-liag 
 
 The pantin' piper's blast did blaw, 
 Our bobbin' heels we crousely wag, 
 
 Till chanticleer l)egan to craw : 
 And, M'ild as ony year-auld nag, 
 
 0' mirth and fun he kick'd the l»a' ; 
 And wallop'd weel the winsome tag 
 
 That pleas'd the lasses best of a'. 
 
 4. 
 
 Then shouts cam' frae his canty cragg, 
 And on we link it, twa an' twa ; 
 
 The young as souple 's liaggaliag, 
 The auld as stiff's a whinstane wa' :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 43 
 
 Aud fiist ami fierce — but flaw or flay, — 
 The mirth cam' ow'r us like a jaw ; 
 
 And ay we clieer'd the jolly tag 
 That pleas'd the lasses best of a'. 
 
 5. 
 
 And, by his side, the soger's dagg 
 
 Hung danglin' frae its belt sae braw ; 
 And round he look'd, wi' saucy brag, 
 
 That carM na tor the warld a straw : 
 And ay we loupit round the tag 
 
 Wi' rantin', ragin', and gaffaw ; 
 For wanton Willie was the wag 
 
 That pleas'd the lasses best of a'.
 
 44 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XIX. THE BOATIE ROWS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE SONCt of the FISHERMAN'S WIFE. 
 
 This beautiful melody is said, in Wood's Songs of Scotland, 
 (vol. ii., p. 3) to be the production of a Mr Ewen, of Aber- 
 deen, who died so lately as the year 1821. If this be the 
 case, it is one of the happiest imitations which we possess of 
 the genuine ancient Scottish music. The following lines were 
 written while the Author had a faint recollection of the for- 
 mer words ; and there may be some resemblance of design 
 between them ; — but he thinks that there is a sufficient variety 
 in the treatment of the subject, to allow the following words 
 to appear. The first stanza is nearly from the old words. 
 
 1. 
 
 weell mail the Boatie row. 
 
 And better ma if she speed; 
 weell mai/ the Boatie row, 
 
 That hriiKfS the hairns^ bread : 
 The Boatie rows, the Boatie rows, 
 
 The Boatie rowsfu^ weel : 
 A nd muckle mule befa' the Haik, 
 
 The Marline and the Creel.* 
 
 "Wliiri our OJiulomaii caos out to tish, 
 And winds l»la\v cauld and stour, 
 
 We beck tlif house for his conic-hanie, 
 And kop him at the door. 
 The Boatie rows, d-c. 
 
 * The Anchor;— the Kope or Hawser; the Fish-basket.
 
 SCOTTISH M?:L0DIES. 45 
 
 3. 
 
 Then art' we pu' his slappy duds, 
 
 An' busk him ilry and clean ; 
 And a' the wee-things gather round 
 
 Our canty spunk at e'en. 
 The Boatie rows, d-c. 
 
 And ane it liangs about his neck, 
 And ane sits on his knee ; 
 
 And ane is ruggin' at his sleeve, 
 And winna let abee. 
 
 The Boatie rows, <kc. 
 
 There 's wee bit Johnnie scarce can speak. 
 
 Or mint his father's name ; 
 And yet yc '11 hear him gabbin' ow'r 
 
 That daddy is come hame. 
 The Boatie rows, d-c. 
 
 6. 
 
 The pat it simmers in the low, 
 The fire it bleezes fine ; 
 
 And a' the smilin' faces round 
 They welcome to his dine. 
 The Boatie rows, dr.
 
 46 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 7. 
 Then saftly conies the e'euin' rest, 
 
 And bright the nioruin' daw' ; 
 Syne up the nets,— push att' the boat,- 
 A cheer, — and then awa'. 
 The Boatie rows, (tc. 
 
 8. 
 Then fair beta' the boiiny Boat, 
 
 And fair befa' the Oar ; 
 And fair befa' the Master o 't, 
 Atloat or on the shore. 
 The Boatie rows, dx. 
 
 XX. THE SNEESHIN' MILL. 
 
 The Author can say nothing of this air, but that he lias 
 long been f'aiiiiriar with it ; and also with the first stanza of 
 the words, includiiig the chorus, here given. The air, witliout 
 any great pretc'nsions, is pleasant enough. The after stanzas 
 will, it is hoped, be found to express tlie sententious morality, 
 and edifying reflections, of a veteran toper and rnvf-taker. 
 
 1. 
 
 Sdiulif Brodie, lend me your* mill : 
 Sdiuli/ Brodie, lend me your mill : 
 Stindf/ Brodie, lend mo yc»ui{ mill ; 
 Lend me your mill, Sundti. 
 
 * To suit the air. tills word must be acci'nted, so as to giv<' 
 a doulib- ending to tin- liiif.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 47 
 
 Sandy lent the man his mill ; 
 The mill that ivas lent was Sandy's mill ; 
 The man got the lend o' Sandy's mill ; 
 And the mill it helancfd to Sandy. 
 
 2. 
 
 Sandy, sin' we last tbrgatlier'd, 
 Mony a storm we twa liae weather'd ; 
 Ay by cauld misfortune tether'd, 
 
 Ay in trouble, Sandy : 
 But, Sandy, lend 's your sneesbin' mill, 
 It belps a friendly hour to till ; 
 And, if ye say anither gill, 
 
 I '11 say the like o 't, Sandy. 
 Sandy Brodit, d'c. 
 
 3. 
 
 Some pass their time in dozin', winkin'. 
 Some in rantin', roarin', drinkin', 
 Aiblins, ane or twa in tbinkin' ; 
 
 Whilk 's the better, Sandy ? 
 But, Sandy, lend's your sneesbin' mill, 
 It belps a dowy hour to kill ; 
 An', if ye say anither gill, 
 
 I winna bau'k ye, Sandy. 
 Sandy Brodie, d'c. 
 
 4. 
 
 Some get thro' the warld by preach in'. 
 Some by craft and over-reachin'.
 
 48 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 Some by Uytin', some by tleechiu' ; 
 
 That 's the gate o 't, Sandy. 
 But, Sandy, leud's your sneeshin' mill, 
 Let 's hae our crack, an' tak' our fill, 
 An', if ye ca' an orra gill, 
 
 I '11 ea' anither, Sandy. 
 Sandy Brodie, d'c. 
 
 5. 
 
 What is Fortune but a bubble ? 
 What is life but toil an' trouble ? 
 Thinkin' only raaks it double ; — 
 
 Pass the bicker, Sandy. 
 But, Sandy, lend 's your sneeshin' mill — 
 What ails my hand to shake an' spill ? — 
 An', if ye 're for anither gill, 
 
 I '11 stand the lawin', Sandy. 
 Sandy Brodie, dx. 
 
 6. 
 
 Poortith comes, wi' a' our haiuin' ; 
 Friends we 're losin', seldom gainin' ; 
 Closer draw to them remainin' ; 
 
 That's tho lesson, Sandy : 
 Then till your glass, and diiina spare ; 
 When that is done we can get mair. 
 And, if you tak' your lioncst share, 
 
 Then / '// fflrtA' skcar,* Sandy. 
 Sandy Brodie, d-r. 
 
 * I'll make sure ; — the motto of tlit- Kirkpatricks of Closeburn
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 49 
 
 7. 
 A weary warld we hae, I trow it, 
 III or weell, we raaun get thro' it, 
 We canua mend it, or renew it, 
 
 That's aboon us, Sandy. 
 But, Sandy, never mop or mane, 
 Let 's pass a social hour our lane. 
 And, aiblins, tryste to meet again : — 
 
 Tak' out this dribble, Sandy. 
 Sandy Brodie, ^c. 
 
 XXI. HOTCH-POTCH. 
 
 Tune — Bah-at-the-Bowster brawly. 
 
 The hint of tins composition was taken from a prose narra- 
 tive of the dialogue between an English tourist and a Scottisii 
 waiter, touching the nature and ingredients of that well-known 
 and savoury compound called IIotch-Potch. The point of 
 the story turned on the constant misapprehension between tlie 
 parties, from the difference of dialect ; but this, it exceeded 
 the j\uthor"s powers to transfer into his song. He has, there- 
 fore, contented himself with a general but sincere tribute to 
 the merits of the above inestimable soup, given under the cha- 
 racter of the Scottish waiter. 
 
 The tune named above will be recalled to recollection, by 
 mentioning that it is the constant accompaniment of tliat old- 
 fashioned but excellent and merry dance, known by the name
 
 50 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 of the Country Bumpkin : — a dance ill exchanged for the 
 sprawling inanities of the present day. 
 
 1. 
 
 looze me on the canny Scotch, 
 "Wlia first contriv'cl, without a 1)otch, 
 To niak' the gusty, good Hotrh-Fatrh, 
 
 That fills the wanic sae hvawly : 
 There 's carrots intill 't, and neeps intill 't, 
 There's cybies intill 't, and leeks intill 't, 
 There 's pease, and beans, and beets intill 't. 
 
 That soom thro' ither sae brawly. 
 
 The French mouiiseor, and English loon, 
 AVheu they come daund'rin' thro' our town, 
 Wi' smirks an' smacks they gulp it down. 
 
 An' lick their lips t'u' brawly. 
 For there 's carrots intill 't, and neaps intill 't. 
 And cybies intill 't, and leeks intill 't, 
 'I'hcrt! 's mutton, and lamb, and beef intill "t. 
 
 That iiiaks it sup sae brawly. 
 
 3. 
 And Irish Pat, when he comes here, 
 Tfi lay his lugs in our good cheer. 
 He shools his cutty wi' unco steer. 
 And clciiis his cognc fii' lirawly
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 51 
 
 For there 's car^ots intill 't, aiul neaps intill 't, 
 There 's pease, and beans, and beets intill 't, 
 And a' good gusty meats intill 't, 
 That grease his gab fu' brawly. 
 
 4. 
 
 A dainty Dame she cam' our way, 
 An' sma' soiip meagre she wad hae : 
 " Wi' your fat broth I cannot away, — 
 
 It maks me scunner fu' brawly : 
 For there 's carrots intill 't, and neaps intill 't, 
 There 's cybies intill 't, and leeks intill 't, 
 And filtliy, greasy meats intill 't, 
 That turn my stamach sae brawly." 
 
 5. 
 She gat her soup : — It was unco trash ; — 
 And little better than poor dish-wash ; 
 'Twad gie a man the water-brash 
 
 To sup sic dirt sae brawly : 
 Nae carrots intill 't, nor neaps intill 't, 
 Nae cybies intill't, nor leeks intill 't, 
 Nor nae good gusty meats intill 't, 
 
 To line the ribs fu' brawly. 
 
 6. 
 
 Then here 's to ilka kindly Scot ; 
 AVi' mony good broths he boils his pot, 
 But rare hotch-potch beats a' the lot. 
 It smells and smacks sae brawlv :
 
 52 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 For there 's carrots iutill 't, and neaps intill *t, 
 There 's pease, and beans, and beets intill 't, 
 And hearty, wholesome meats iutill 't, 
 That stech the kite sae brawly. 
 
 XXII. JOHNNY, I AVAS DEAR; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE FORSAKEN. 
 
 Tune — The dusty Miller. 
 
 It may strike some persons with surprise to see this air, — 
 so well known as lively and familiar, — adapted to words of a 
 grave, and even pathetic, character. But it has always ap- 
 peared to the Author that this melody (like many other of the 
 cheerful airs of Scotland) possessed — when played or sung 
 slowly, and with expression — a character of simple pathos 
 which accorded witii words of the same description, lie has 
 therefore made the following attempt. The air is alluded to 
 by Mr Dauney, in his Dissertation, p. 144, under the old name 
 of liinnv's Ji<j. 
 
 1. 
 
 Johnny, I was dear, 
 
 WIhmi first we cam' thegither ; 
 Afton did ye swear 
 
 Yo no'er wad loo anitlier : 
 Now, your Ijuvo p;rown auld, 
 
 Ijooks fu' strange upon mo. 
 And that o'o sac cauld, 
 
 It 's no the o'e that won me.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 53 
 
 f. 
 
 2. 
 
 Ye hae sought a bride 
 
 Proud wi' braws and siller ; 
 And she thiuks ye '11 bide 
 
 Ay true-hearted till her : 
 She may be mista'en, 
 
 Tho' sae brisk and bonny ; 
 IIo that 's false to aue 
 
 Will ne'er be true to ouy. 
 
 3. 
 
 When we 're far apart, 
 
 Pride may come to free me ; 
 I wad scorn a heart 
 
 That ye grudge to gie me : 
 But how vain the boast, 
 
 My sharp woes to cover ; — 
 A' my pride was lost 
 
 When I lost my lover. 
 
 4. 
 Comrades dear, I crave. 
 
 Twine the rue and willow ; 
 Soon they '11 deck my grave, 
 
 As now they deck my pillow : 
 Griefs they may be borne 
 
 When by Luve partaken ; 
 But, oh ! the bitter scorn 
 
 To luve, and be forsaken. 
 
 £ 2
 
 54 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 5. 
 
 Nought remains for me, 
 
 This sad war Id thorough ; 
 I my weird mauu dree, 
 
 Till I siuk wi' sorrow : 
 A' your luve forespent, — 
 
 Scorn'd each plighted token,- 
 Ye may yet repent, — 
 
 When ray heart is broken. 
 
 XXIII. THERE CAM' A YOUNG LAD TO MY 
 DADDY'S DOOR ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE BASHFUL WOOER. 
 
 This pleasant and humorous air is well known ; but the 
 usual words seem to the Author by no means worthy of it. 
 They are given in Chambers's Scottish Songs, vol. ii., \>. 334. 
 All that is retained of them in the following lines is the first 
 stanza (which is compounded from two of the original), and the 
 chorus or burden. 
 
 1. 
 
 There cam'' a young Lad to my Daddy's door, 
 My Daddy^s door, my Daddy's door ; 
 
 There cam' a yountj Lad to my Daddy's dour, 
 A-seekin' me to tooo :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 55 
 
 There was a deuk-dub afore the door, 
 
 Afore the door, afore the door ; 
 There was a deuk-dub afore the door, 
 AtC he fell in, I trow. 
 
 But wasna he a bonny young lad, 
 
 A bravo lad, an" a brisk young lad ; 
 Rut wasna he a bonny young lad, 
 Gani' seekin' me to woo ? 
 
 2. 
 
 He tirl'd the pin, and I loot him in, 
 
 I loot him in, I loot him in ; 
 He tirl'd the pin, and I loot him in. 
 
 For he was a' wet thro' : 
 And ay he sat, but ne'er he spak'. 
 
 But ne'er he spak', but ne'er he spak', 
 And ay he sat, but ne'er he spak'. 
 
 He was sae blate, I trow. 
 But ivasna he, dtc. 
 
 3. 
 
 I specr'd him how the nowt did sell, 
 
 The nowt did sell, the nowt did sell, 
 I specr'd him how the nowt did sell ; 
 
 At Falkirk Tryst ye' now : 
 He answer'd that he cou'd na tell, 
 
 He cou'd na tell, he cou'd na tell ; 
 He answer'd that he cou'd na tell. 
 
 And syne he shut his mou'. 
 But ivasna he, dtc.
 
 56 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 4. 
 
 I speer'cl him gif tlic crap was in, 
 
 The crap was in, the crap was in ; 
 I speer'd him gif the crap was in, 
 
 For har'st was wearin' thro' : 
 He answer'd that he didna ken, 
 
 He didna ken, ho didna ken ; 
 He answer'd that he didna ken, 
 
 An' syne he shut his mou". 
 But tvasna he, dec. 
 
 5. 
 
 I took the quaich, an' I gied him a drap, 
 
 I gied him a drap, I gied him a drap ; 
 I took the quakh, and I gie(l him a drap,- 
 
 But no to mak' him fou : 
 He drank the drap, an' sync he spak', 
 
 An' syne he spak', an' sync ho spak' ; 
 He drank tlie drap, an' syne he spak', — 
 
 " ye 're my bonny doo !" 
 An'' wasna he, dec. 
 
 My Daddy he is intill i\\v byre, 
 Intill the byre, intill the byre ; 
 
 My-Daddy he is intill tlir i)yre, 
 A-muckin' out the cow ; 
 
 But ho '11 come in, if ye desire. 
 If ye desire, if ye desire ;
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 57 
 
 But he '11 come in, if ye desire, 
 To speak a word ye' now. 
 But wasna he, <kc. 
 
 i . 
 
 He stappit his head thro' the winnock-bole, 
 
 The winuoek-bole, the winnock-bole ; 
 He stappit his head thro' the winnock-bole, — 
 
 " Grudeman, ye 're wantit now." 
 Sae my Daddy cam' in, and his turn was" done, 
 
 His turn was done, his turn was done ; 
 My Daddy cam' in, and his turn was done. 
 That brought him here to woo. 
 
 And now I'm the Bride o' the honny lad. 
 The braw lad, an'' the brisk youwj lad ; 
 And now I 'm the Bride o' the bonny lad, 
 Gam' seekin'' me to tvoo.
 
 58 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XXIV. THE MATRIMONIAL CURE. 
 
 Tune — There cam a young lad to mii Daddy's door. 
 
 The Author, with that profound admiration and respect 
 Mhich lie bears towards the fair sex, hardly knows how to ac- 
 count for his having fallen into the following effusion. He 
 can only plead, in mitigation, that he was apjirehensive lest 
 the preceding lyric might prove too strong an encouragement 
 to matrimony, and might require a gentle corrective. 
 
 1. 
 
 There was a man, and he had a wife, 
 And, oh ! she was the plague o' his life ; 
 She keopit him ay in sturt and strife. 
 
 And no'er wad stock her mou' : 
 For, a' day lano;, she wad rago an' rout. 
 And after ferlios rin thereout ; 
 An' when the niglit it cam' about. 
 She ay gat roarin' fou. 
 
 >4n' wasna she a honny younci wife, 
 
 A hraw wife, an' a brisk young wife ; 
 
 An'' wasna she a honny younq wife, 
 That ay qat roarin'' fou. 
 
 " Gudemaii," quo' she, "ye'ro a dirty loon, 
 Wool kcnt for greed thro' a' the town ; 
 Ye winna gie me a coat or gown 
 0' the gonty fashion new."
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES, 59 
 
 " Ye jad, ye 've got baith gown and coat, 
 I 've war'd upon ye mony a groat ; 
 But a' gaes into the swillin'-pot 
 When ye get roarin' fou." 
 And wasna she, dec. 
 
 3. 
 
 " Ye speak but hawrs, man," quo' she, 
 " For never I taste the barley-bree, 
 But, now an' tlien, a drap sae wee 
 
 It scarcely weets my mou'." 
 " Ye lee, ye limmcr, — ye ne'er-do-weel ! — 
 Ye've harried my house, — ye've coupit my creel; — 
 But, if there 's rcmcid frae man or Deil, 
 
 I swear I '11 hae it now." 
 And wasna she, dr. 
 
 4. 
 He 's gane to the Souter, an' coft a whang, 
 He 's brunt the ends o' the leather lang ; 
 An', when she set up her drunken sang, 
 
 Then out his whang he drew : 
 He baistit her hide thro' a' the town ; 
 He baistit her black, — he baistit her brown, — 
 And, e'er the taicse he laid them down. 
 He sobered her, I trow. 
 An'' wasna this the cure for a wife, 
 A braiv wife, an'' a Jirisk young ivife ; 
 An' imsna this the cure for a wife. 
 That ay gat roarin'' fou.
 
 60 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XXV. I 'M OW'R YOUNG FOR WOOIN' YET ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE FORWARD YOUTH. 
 
 Tune — The sow's tail's to Geordie. 
 
 The above well-known Jacobite song was levelled at George I. 
 and his mistress, the Duchess of Kendal. The air, however 
 (which is lively, and not unpleasant), belongs to an older pe- 
 riod, and was adapted to the words — 
 
 The auld wife, ayont the fire, 
 She dee'd for want o' sneeshin'. 
 
 In the Chorus or Burden, the first line is sung three times — 
 the last, once. 
 
 1. 
 
 My Friends, they say I 'm just a l>airii, 
 Au' only fit my book to learn ; 
 Frae sniirkin' Lasses ay they warn, 
 
 That lead us a' to ruin. 
 I 'm ow'r youug, — they ay will say 't, — 
 1 'm ow'r young tor wooin' yet, 
 I 'in ow'r young for wooin' yet, 
 
 I 'm ow'r young for wooin'. 
 
 2. 
 
 But I jalouse thoy 're sair mista'on, 
 Vor, a' the night, 1 mope and mane, 
 A-thinkin' o' thae bonny e'en 
 
 That shoot, like needles thro" ano :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 61 
 
 But ay they threap, I 'm just a gctt, 
 I 'm ow'r young for wooin' yet ; 
 An', dearly tho' I loo my Bet, 
 I maunna gang a-wooiu'. 
 
 3. 
 
 Tliey say that I maun wait a wee, 
 
 Till I can do my spcUiu' free, 
 
 Wi' Fractions and The Rule o' Three, 
 
 That set me a' a-gruin' : 
 But let them fidge, or let them fret, 
 I 'm no sae young as they wad hae 't ; 
 T dinna ken tho spolliu' yet. 
 
 But weel I ken the wooin'. 
 
 4. 
 
 I gaed wi' Bessie to the fair, 
 
 And muckle din an' daffin' there :— 
 
 I gat ae kiss, an' gat nae mair, 
 
 But, 0, it was a true ane : 
 Then I '11 gang a-wooin' yet ; 
 Then I '11 gang a-wooin' yet ; 
 Then I '11 gang a-wooin' yet ; 
 
 It's just the time for wooin'.
 
 62 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XXVI. LOCH ERROCn SIDE ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE FAREWELL. 
 
 This air is well known and admired as a modern strath- 
 spey. It has always appeared to the Author to possess consi- 
 derable pathos, and he has, therefore, adapted it to words of 
 that character. It has been printed in Uoixr.'? Scottish Son<is 
 (vol. i., p. 134), under the name of The Lass o' Gowrie : but 
 the words there given are on a design wholly different from 
 the present. 
 
 1. 
 
 Farewell to sweet Loch Erroch side ; — 
 May peace and plenty there abide ; — 
 For I am boune to tak' tlio tide, 
 
 And cross the stormy main, : 
 How dark the road that I maun gae ; — 
 How lang an' dreary is the way; — 
 And sad forebodings seem to say, 
 
 "VVe ne'er shall meet again, 0. 
 
 When pass'd awa' the winter chill, 
 And blithosomo buds began to till, 
 Wc sought our shcillii^is on the hill. 
 
 And I the first was there, : 
 The genty Kwies took their ground. 
 The pipers blew their roarin' sound, 
 An' sport an' dalliii" a' gaed round :- 
 
 I 'II uvwv see 't nac mair, (>.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 63 
 
 3. 
 And when auld Yule, wi' snawy pow, 
 Brought friends thcgither round the lowe, 
 We laugh'd to scorn the Worricow, 
 
 And bade him pinch and freeze, : 
 Took down the Ivebbock and the ijill. 
 And push'd about the sneeshiu'-mill ; 
 Syne, — wag the warkl as it will, — 
 
 We cuitled ow'r the bleeze, 0. 
 
 4. 
 
 When clean'd, at night, frae dub and mire, 
 And hous'd the hawkies in the byre ; 
 How canty loup'd our gloamin' tire. 
 
 An' round the Speiicc did shine, : — 
 But now that I maun leave them a', 
 Baith friends and fire, — baith house an' ha', 
 How aft I '11 mind, Avhen far awa', 
 
 The days o' sweet lang syne, 0. 
 
 5. 
 
 scenes, sae welcome to my heart I — 
 
 And maun Ave ever — ever part i 
 
 What keen regrets and sorrows start ; — 
 
 What thoughts o' joy and pain, : 
 But dark tho' a' my future ways. 
 Thro' restless nights, and weary days. 
 Sweet Hope her still sma' voice will raise- 
 
 AVe yet may meet again, 0.
 
 64 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XXYII. THE BARD. 
 No. I. 
 
 Tune — 0, quo^ the wee wifie, this is no me. 
 
 The following stanzas will perhaps recall to recollection 
 IIogarth"s picture of The Bistressed Poet. The variety of the 
 genus here represented is one who marries music to immortal 
 verse, — with which occupation the Author's sympathies are at 
 present deeply engaged. A set of words for this air is given by 
 Chambers, vol. ii., p. 316. The following are on a different de- 
 sign, though neither aspire above the character of burlesque. 
 
 1. 
 I canna cat my nccdfu' meat, 
 
 I canna clout my claes ; 
 The bairns like wul-cats riu thereout ; 
 
 The beds they hotch wi' flaes. 
 But ay, frae houny mornin' light, 
 
 Until the afternoon, 
 I 'm hummin', an' hummin', 
 
 An' tlrummin' at a tune. 
 
 2. 
 
 My wife she says it 's a' for nought, 
 
 I '11 never win the gear ; 
 " Wha kccpit o'er a hou.se," quo' she, 
 
 "Or gat their kail by loar?"
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 65 
 
 Yet a' the night, e'ei' mornin' light, 
 
 An' till the afternoon, 
 I 'm hummin', an' bummin', 
 
 An' thrummin' at a tuuo. 
 
 3. 
 
 The dog an' cat amaist are starv'd, 
 
 An' fochtin' for a bane ; 
 They howk for bits amang the aiss, 
 
 But troth they can get naue : 
 The wee l)it linty chirps fu' snia', 
 
 An' maks an eerie croon, 
 While I keep fidgin' at my wark, 
 
 A-thrumniin' at a tune. 
 
 4. 
 
 The sleekit mouse rins thro' the house, 
 
 To find a candle end ; 
 The ratton comes to snoove for crumbs. 
 
 But canna mak' a fend : 
 My wife she steers the parritch-pat, 
 
 To get our poor Disjune ; 
 While I sing dool upon my stool, 
 
 An' hammer out a tune. 
 
 5. 
 
 Tn comes the saucy sour-milk wife. 
 
 Her nick-stick* in her hand ; 
 I tell her no to vex my life, 
 
 I dinna understand : 
 * The tally by which the milk score is kept. 
 
 f2
 
 66 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 I watna when the chappin's out, 
 
 But 0, it 's unco soon ; 
 E'er a' gae thro', an' weet their mou', 
 
 In troth the dribble's done. 
 
 6. 
 
 " But gin ye '11 tak' this dainty lilt 
 
 In payment o' your due, 
 Tho' worth your milk a hunner-l'auld, 
 
 I '11 aiblins gie 't to you." 
 " Houts! baud your haverin' tongue," quo' she, 
 
 " An' wi' your clash hae done ; 
 Wha'd gie their bonny l)uttcr-milk 
 
 In niffer for a tune ?" 
 
 7. 
 Next comes the hurley butcher-man, 
 
 Wi' voice sae stern an' dour ; 
 He gars the very rybats ring, 
 
 And stamps upo' tlio floor : 
 I rooso him sair to flyto nao mair, 
 
 And 1 will pay him soon ; 
 For, in a wee, I '11 get my foe, 
 
 And siller for a tune. 
 
 8. 
 Yet, a' the whilf, 1 focht an' toil 
 
 To clamper up a rhyme ; 
 But, 0, the sang it 's droich to gang, 
 
 Tho ends thev winiia chimo :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 07 
 
 I scavt my head, an' bite my nails, 
 
 An' glowr upo' the moon ; 
 But ne'er a bit the word will fit, 
 
 Or catch the dorty tune. 
 
 9. 
 
 wae befa' the weary wight 
 
 That plies the Muses' lear ; 
 His wame is toom, — his aumrey's out, — 
 
 His back an' side gae bare ; 
 Yet ay he taigles at his task, 
 
 And never will hae done 
 Wi' hummin', an' bummin', 
 
 An' drummin' at a tune. 
 
 XXVIII. THE BARD. 
 No. II. 
 
 Tune — The rock and the wee pickle tow. 
 
 The old words of this air are given by Chambers, vol. i., 
 p. 249. The design of the following words is wholly differ- 
 ent ; and they are merely furnished as a companion to the last 
 song, under a somewhat different phase, — but with pretences 
 no higher than burlesque. 
 
 1. 
 
 I lang hae bethought me o' croonin' a sang. 
 
 If auce I cou'd ken the spinnin' o 't ; 
 But the tune it was stiff, an' the words they gaed wrang. 
 
 An' that was a bad beginnin' o 't :
 
 68 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 I fidg'd an' I fykit, I hotch'd an' I blew, 
 I rantit an' pantit, I flate au' I flew, 
 I hoastit an' boastit — but a' wadna do ; 
 Sae the Deil flee awa' wi' the dinnin' o 't. 
 
 2. 
 
 The first ane I tried was in praise o' my dear, 
 An' dour was the tink'rin' and tinnin' o 't ; 
 
 I off"er'd my heart ; — but, quo' she, wi" a jeer, 
 " I'd no gie a preen for the winnin' o 't :" 
 
 I gran'd an' I gruutit,— I fleech'd an' I pray'd ; 
 
 I ca'd her my cliarmcr, my beautiful maid ; — 
 
 But, tossin' my liltic, — " It 's nonsense," she said, 
 " Forbye a saiv hitch in the rinniu' o 't." 
 
 3. 
 
 The neist ane I sent to a Lord o' the land ; 
 
 His favor I tried for the winnin' o 't ; 
 I swore that tru& wisdom he did understand ; — 
 
 May Heaven forgi'e me the sinnin' o 't : 
 I trow'd o' his bounty belyve I wad hear : 
 But, rowin' in riches, his fist it was sweor ; 
 Ho kcepit my sang, — but he keepit his gear ; — 
 
 Ficnt a bawbee e'er heard I the dinnin' o 't. 
 
 4. 
 There was an auld proverb o' cati-hin' your Biar 
 
 Before ye begou<l to the skinnin' o 't ; 
 When I took to the quill, an' the prolit.s <•' lea:-, 
 
 1 sairly miscounlit the iiinin" o 't :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 69 
 
 0, had I sat down at the Lug o' the Law, 
 I had rantit au' routit the best o' them a', 
 An' rade in my coach, wi' my Jeezy sae hraw, 
 An' gowpius o' gowd for the winnin' o 't. 
 
 XXIX. LASSIE, WILL YE GANO WI' ME ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE HIGHLANDER'S WOOING. 
 
 Of this air the Author cannot give the name, although he 
 has been long familiar with it. It is usually sung quick, in 
 the manner of what is called in Scotland a Lilt : — but, when 
 given moderately slow, it possesses both beauty and delicacy. 
 Although the following stanzas are written in a very simple 
 measure, the air, in singing, requires so many refrains and re- 
 petitions, — both of entire lines, and of parts of lines, — as to 
 be somewhat complicated : A stanza or two will, therefore, be 
 added in a note at the end, shewing these repetitions. Any old 
 words which the Author has heard are wholly unfit for exhi- 
 bition. 
 
 Lassie, will ye gang wi' me, 
 
 To our sweet Hieland glen ? 
 We 've wealth o' gear and haudin' there, 
 
 A cozev butt an' ben.
 
 70 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 2. 
 
 It lies ainang the heather hills, 
 Where smells the honey flower ; 
 
 An' mony a dainty cock an' hen 
 dae pickin' round the door. 
 
 3. 
 
 A bonny burn it wimples down 
 Amang the sunny braes ; 
 
 An' maks a pool sae clear an' cool, 
 For washiu' o' the claes. 
 
 4. 
 
 And lammies play, the livelang day. 
 
 About the grassy knowes ; 
 And ay, at e'en, the lasses gae 
 
 A-milkin' o' the yows. 
 
 5. 
 
 0, wad yo cast your lot wi' rae, 
 Nae ill shou'd you betide ; 
 
 Yo 's want nae good that I can gie, 
 If ye will be my Bride. 
 
 6. 
 
 My Minny says, I maunna gang 
 An' leave her far awa' ; 
 
 Ydiir Ilicland kin wad do mo wrang 
 1 canna gang ava'.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 71 
 
 7. 
 
 But bring your Minny ow'r the hills, 
 
 Where glints the heather bell ; 
 She '11 hae her share in a' my gear 
 
 As welcome as yoursell. 
 
 8. 
 
 Then, Laddie, I will gang wi' ye, 
 
 Wi' heart baith leal an' true ; 
 I '11 leave our bonny LoAvland lea. 
 
 An' tak' the hills wi' you.* 
 
 * Tlie tliird of the above stanzas, written as it is sung, is as 
 follows : — 
 
 A bonny burn it wimples down, 
 
 It wimples down, it wimples down; 
 A bonny burn it wimples down 
 Amang the sunny braes ; 
 An" maks a pool, sae clear an' cool, 
 
 Sae clear an" cool, sae clear an" cool ; 
 An' maks a pool, sae clear an' cool, 
 For washin' o' the claes. 
 
 Tlie last stanza is as follows : — 
 
 Then, laddie, I will gang wi' ye. 
 
 Will gang wi' ye, will gang wi' ye ; 
 Then, laddie, I will gang wi' ye, 
 
 Wi' heart baith leal an" true : 
 I '11 leave our bonny Lowland lea, 
 
 Our Lowland lea, our Lowland lea; 
 I "11 leave our bonny Jjowland lea, 
 An' tak' the hills wi' you.
 
 72 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XXX. THE MERRY PLOUCIHMAN. 
 
 Tune — Merrily danced the Quaker's wife. 
 
 This is a cheerful and pleasant air. Such of the former 
 words as the Author has heard, are of no great merit : And 
 the following are on a different design. 
 
 1. 
 
 Merrily danced tlie ploughman's wife, 
 
 And merrily danced the ploughman : 
 The hlithe Daft-Days* they cheer his life, 
 
 Tho' comin' but ance a towmont : 
 The nappy yill, tlic canty gill, 
 
 Clae briskly round the mailliu" ; 
 x\n' nocht but ploy, an' jest, an' joy, 
 
 Are in the happy dwellin'. 
 
 2. 
 
 The sun shines bright, and fresh the light. 
 
 When spring it opens fairly ; 
 Then out, wi' sangs, tho ploughman gangs. 
 
 Up in tho inornin' early : 
 His stalwart beasts they join their breasts, 
 
 An' tug before his singin' ; 
 While colley barks, an" shues the larks. 
 
 That frae the lea are springin'. 
 * The days between Christmas and the new year.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 73 
 
 And now, when melteth comes about, — 
 
 Across the quakin' bogie. 
 The wee bit bairn comes todcllin' out, 
 
 To bring her Father's cogie : 
 He slacks the graith frae horses baith, 
 
 That pasture round in plenty, 
 Then taks his spare but wholesome fare. 
 
 Which hunger maks a dainty. 
 
 4. 
 
 Thus slips away the live-lang day, 
 
 Till glints the peacefu' gloamin' ; 
 The bairns look out, an' tot about. 
 
 To watch their Father's comin' : 
 And, when he 's seen, they skelp an' rin 
 
 Wi' shouts o' joy to meet him ; 
 An' pu' his coat, an' rage, an' rout, 
 
 For fainness a' to greet him. 
 
 5. 
 
 Then round they jouk the ingle neuk, 
 
 Their een wi' pleasure glancin' ; 
 Some sit fu' douce, — some scour the house 
 
 Wi' datlin' and wi' dancin' : 
 Goodwife looks in her aumry ])in, 
 
 To fetch the bit an' drappy ; — 
 The kebbock fat, — the gusty swat. 
 
 That reams sae rich and nappy. 
 
 ft
 
 74 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 6. 
 
 leeze me on the ploughman's hame, 
 
 Tho' no in gauds excellin' ; 
 He 's free fi'ae care — he 's free frae blame, 
 
 And peace is in his dwellin' : 
 The lofty tower, the dainty bower, 
 
 Tliey mak' an unco show, man ; 
 But snug the cot, and sweet the lot. 
 
 That wait the happy ploughman. 
 
 XXXI. THE LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE 
 
 MOOR. 
 
 Tills well-known and pleasing melody is conjectured by Mr 
 Ty tier, in his Disfertation, to have been composed about the end 
 of the 17th century ; but this opinion has been signally dis- 
 proved by the Skene Manuscript. This air is there inserted, as 
 known nearly two centuries earlier : and this circumstance, in- 
 dee<i, leads Mr Dauncy, its learned editor and commentator, to 
 remark on the great uncertainty of such conjectures, as to de- 
 termining the era of songs from their musical character. The 
 air, as copied in the Skene MS., diflfors considerably from the 
 one now commimly known; and tho older of the two is j)re- 
 ferred by Mr Dnuney.* The first line, giving the usual title 
 of the song, has also been changed from that in tho Skene MS., 
 which is, " Alas.' that T cavie o'er the moor." 
 
 The first of tho following stfinzas is that published by Allan 
 
 " niMsnrt. on Skene MSS., v- l'>, an<l i>i«. a.ia, ;«!!». The Skene .\ISS. 
 aro ciinjcrtiin'.l l>v Mr Daunev to liiivc been written about the vcur 
 Kilft or KBO.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 75 
 
 Ramsay, with a few alterations. It has little merit, but is 
 better than the rest, — and has been retained here, as asso- 
 ciated with the melody. The second and third stanzas below 
 are new. 
 
 1. 
 
 The last time I came o'er the moor, 
 
 I left my Love behind me ; 
 Alas! what pain do I endure, 
 
 When tender thoughts remind me : 
 Soon as the glint o' morn hetray\l 
 
 The sultry day ensuing, 
 I met betimes my bonny maid 
 
 In secret haunts for wooing. 
 
 2. 
 
 But, e'er the hour o' gloamiu' grey, 
 Tliro' moors and mosses dreary, 
 
 Again 1 '11 toil my lauesome way, 
 ' An' back to meet my deary ; 
 
 The hafflin' moon will shew her face 
 Out ow'r the hills to guide me ; 
 
 And weel I ken the trystin'-place 
 Where love and joy abide me. 
 
 3. 
 
 Tho' life should pass in care and toil, 
 Wi' her I weel cou'd bear it ; 
 
 Nor reck I ought o' Fortune's smile. 
 Unless wi' her to share it :
 
 76 SCOTTISH MELODIES, 
 
 On heaps o' gowd, — on ferlies fine,- 
 Let others set their fancy ; 
 
 But gowd an' ferlies a' are mine, 
 When wedded to my Nancy. 
 
 XXXII. THE BUSH ABOON TRAQUAIR. 
 
 This is certainly one of the finest of our Scottish melodies. 
 If excelled by any, it is only by The Floivers of the Forest. The 
 words usually sung were publislied by Allan Ramsay, in the 
 Tea-Table Miscellany, and are said, in ]Vooi:Vs Sonfls, vol. i., 
 p. 19, to have been the production of a Air Crawford. They 
 are by no means first-rate, and have too much claim to the 
 title of namby-pamby, bestowed by Mr Dauney on some of 
 ]{amsay"s songs. In the following words the first stanza only 
 has been retained of the former set, with some slight altera- 
 tions. Two others have been added. 
 
 The air is conjectured by Mr Tytler to have been composed 
 about the end of the seventeenth century ; and this opinion, it 
 is believed, is generally thought to be correct. 
 
 1. 
 
 hear mc, every faithful swain! 
 
 I m tell how rciHjy (jrieves mc ; 
 For, tho' I laiKjuish and complain, 
 
 Alas ! she ne'er believes me. 
 Mtf vows, my siijhs, my mute despair, 
 
 Unheeded never woi't' her : 
 The Bonny Ihish ahoon Traquair, 
 
 'Twas there I first did love her.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 77 
 
 2. 
 Peggy, wilt thou scorn me now, 
 
 For lordly birth and bearing ? 
 Forget, forego, each plighted vow, 
 
 And leave me here despairing? 
 The pomp of state,— the pride of art,— 
 
 Thou 'It gain, if such can move thee ; 
 But thou wilt lose a faithful heart 
 
 That never ceas'd to love thee. 
 
 How oft, beneath that verdant shade. 
 
 The winged hours Hew by us : 
 Secure in bliss, I fondly said, 
 
 What ill can e'er come nigh us ? 
 But, if thou 'rt false—ah ! never more 
 
 That Bonny Bush I '11 see, Love ; 
 But die upon some foreign shore, 
 
 Far, far from home and thee, Love.
 
 78 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XXXIII. NID, NID, NODDIN'; 
 
 OR, 
 
 HOGMANAY. 
 
 This is one of the pleasantest and best known of our lively 
 airs. The old words are, in some parts, inadmissible. The 
 following are an attempt to supply their place. 
 
 1. 
 
 Cry in a' the folk, 
 
 Let ne'er a body gae ; 
 We maun a' be at hame 
 On the merry Hogmanay. 
 And we We a' noddin\ 
 Nid, nid, noddin\ 
 We 're a noddin' 
 At oxir house at hams. 
 
 2. 
 
 The dogs they do bark. 
 The bairns mak' a din ; 
 
 The wind roars without, 
 And the inglo roars within 
 And we're a' noddin , d'c. 
 
 3. 
 
 An' sangs gao about. 
 An' jokes never tiro,
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 79 
 
 As we a' gather round 
 Our bonny lowin' tire. 
 And ive Ve «' noddin', tjtc, 
 
 4. 
 Then out spak' Jock liohb, 
 " We maun a' be asteer, 
 At First-foot* the morn, 
 A-wooin' to our dear." 
 And we 're «' noddin\ dr. 
 
 ' 3 
 
 5. 
 
 Jock has nae sark, 
 
 An' Jenny has nae shoe ; 
 They gaed to Mass John,\ 
 
 But he wadna buckle too. 
 And we 're a' noddin\ dr. 
 
 6. 
 
 Now a' down we sit — 
 
 G-oodwife, where 's the gill ? — 
 Get horns+ for the Haggis, 
 
 And let us hae our fill. 
 And we 're «' nodding dr. 
 
 * The first-/ootin!f ov first meeting on New-year's niorninff is 
 an important augury in love-matters. 
 
 t The Ck>r<ryman. J Horn spoons.
 
 80 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 7. 
 Then, stecht out our wames, 
 Ilk man diglits his mou', 
 An' Het-pint* gaes round 
 Till we 're a' noddin' fou. 
 And toe 're a' noddin\ dr. 
 
 8. 
 Syne, noddin' an' bobbin', 
 
 We tumble to our strae ; 
 And up wi' the morn 
 
 On the bonny New-Year Day. 
 And we 're a' noddin, <i;c. 
 
 XXXIV. THE MILLER. 
 
 Tune — 0, weell may the Maid be that marries the Miller. 
 
 Tliis simple and pleasing air was composed by Sir .lohn 
 Clerk of Penicuik, and first appeared in print (according to 
 tlie statement in Chambers' Sonijs, vol. i., p. 241) in the year 
 1751. It is a happy imitation of the ancient Scottish melody. 
 Tlie old words are given by t'hanibors, pretty nearly as the 
 author lias lieurd thuni ; but he tliought that they admitted of 
 considerable additions and suppressions. His object has been 
 to sketch an Interior of quiet, humble comfort and opulence. 
 He has retained little of the former words except the first 
 Htanza, together with the liurdcn, or concluding couplet, at 
 the end of each stanza. This last, however, is not necessary 
 
 • Uot-]iint:~ n I'liinlle iniidu of spirits, milk, ogKti, an>i sugar.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 81 
 
 to complete the air ; and may be used or omitted, at the dis- 
 cretion of the sincer. 
 
 1. 
 
 0, wed may the maid he. 
 
 That marries the Miller ; 
 For, foul day and fair day. 
 
 He 's ay hringin' till her : 
 He ^as ay a penny in his purse,^ 
 
 For dinner and for supper ; 
 And, gin ye please, a good fat cheese, 
 
 And lumps o' yellow butter. 
 
 They 're a' good signs, my Minny says. 
 And bids me tak the Miller ; 
 
 For, fold day and fair day, 
 He 's ay ivinnin' siller. 
 
 2. 
 
 The Spence sae bein and warm at e'en, 
 
 The fire sae briskly clancin' ; 
 The eight-clay clock ahint its neuk, 
 
 The plates ami ashets glaucin' ; 
 A wee pet lamb, that tint the dam, 
 
 It loups about fu' trimly ; 
 And rashers good, the wale o' food, 
 
 Hang reistin' ow'r the chiraley. 
 They 're a' good signs, <&c. 
 
 3. 
 
 There 's maut to brew, the girnel 's fu', 
 The l)annocks brown are toastin' ;
 
 82 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 The boyns they ream wi' snawy cream, 
 There 's taties rare for roastin' : 
 
 There 's deuk an' goose about the house, 
 Wi' doos sae jimp an' genty ; 
 
 An', butt an' ben, a caicklin' hen. 
 To lay her eggs in plenty. 
 They 're a' good signs, d-c. 
 
 4. 
 
 A braw peat-stack, frae fore to back. 
 
 Is biggit at the gable ; 
 The Miller's mear, the sacks to bear, 
 
 Stands munchin' in the stable : 
 A good fat sow, a sleekit cow. 
 
 She routs within the byre ; 
 And lazy pouss, and mcssan douce 
 
 Lye sleepin' by the fire. 
 
 Thei/ 're «' good signs, d'c. 
 
 5. 
 
 The splashin' wheel, it rins fu' weel, 
 
 The axe-tree smoothly turnin' ; 
 And, ow'r the way, ayont the brae, 
 
 The canny Kill is burnin' : 
 The Clap it claps, the Jfuppcr haps, 
 
 The Mill-stanes Avork fu' rarely ; 
 An', down the spout, the meal comes out 
 
 0' bonny aits or l^arloy. 
 They 're a' good signs, dc.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 83 
 
 6. 
 
 The Miller's trade 's a cozy trade, 
 
 Nae wind or weather steers him : 
 Wi' butt an' ben, sae couth and clean, 
 
 His canty hame it cheers him : 
 His heartsome wife, she leads her life 
 
 Wi' a' her bairns al)out her ; 
 For, frost or thaw, or rain or snaw, 
 
 The Miller males his Mouter* 
 They^ re a' good signs, dec. 
 
 XXXV. PBaaY, WHY THAT ALTER'D 
 
 LOOK? 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE LOVERS' QUARREL. 
 
 TuNE^TF/jat is that to you? 
 
 This is a pleasant air. The words adapted to it in Allan 
 Ramsay's Tea-Tahle Miscellany, — each stanza ending with the 
 above line, which gives name to the tune, — are far from bad : 
 But the following are on an entirely different design. 
 
 1. 
 
 Peggy, why that aiter'd look ? 
 The scorn that 's in your e'e ? 
 
 1 'm sure ye hae been sair mistook 
 
 To think ought ill o' me. 
 
 * A proportion of the grain, as the Miller's fee for grinding.
 
 84 SCOTTISH MELODIES, 
 
 Then chase your sullen doubts awa', 
 And clear that cloudy brow ; 
 
 I may hae failings ane or twa, 
 But ne'er a fau't to you. 
 
 But ne'er afauH to you; 
 
 But ne^er afauH to you; 
 
 I may hae failings ane or twa. 
 
 But ne'er a fau't to you. 
 
 2. 
 
 I lookit at young Nancy's face, 
 
 And said I thought it fair ; 
 I danc'd wi' Jeany at the race, 
 
 But then, yo wasua there : 
 But said I ever lip was sweet, 
 
 Or e'e was bonny blue ; 
 Or shape was genty, jimp, and neat. 
 
 At a' compar'd wi' you ? 
 
 At a' compar'd wi' you, dec. 
 
 3. 
 
 Yo sent me back the winsome gown. 
 
 The ribbon for your hair ; 
 I coft them at the Burrow Town, 
 
 When you and me were there : 
 Ye sent mo back the beads fu' braw. 
 
 That ow'r your nock I threw ; 
 liut nacthing looks sae weol awa'. 
 
 As what it looks on you. 
 
 An what it looks on you, dr.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 85 
 
 4. 
 But I can read that meltiii' e'e 
 
 Thro' a' your caukl disdain ; 
 Yo took thae fairings ance frae me, 
 
 Ye '11 tak' them ance again : 
 Then cease, dear lassie, cease to vex 
 
 A heart baith leal an' true ; 
 For, tho' ye trouble and perplex. 
 
 It ne'er can part frae you. 
 
 It ne'er can part frae yon, tkc. 
 
 XXXVI. THE FAIR. 
 
 Tune — Johnny stays lang at the Fair. 
 
 This is a well-known and pleasant air, and evidently of a 
 parentage strictly Caledonian. It is extremely simple, and 
 has no second part, — the latter part of the stanza bein<r sung 
 to the same notes as the first part. The Chorus or Jlarden — 
 which is still to the same notes — may be repeated or not, ac- 
 cording to the pleasure of the singer, at tlie close of each 
 stanza. 
 
 1. 
 
 foul fa' the gate that my Laddie has gane again ; 
 He 's aff to the ploy, and has left me my lane again ; 
 Ow'r moss and ow'r muirland his wayhe has ta'en again, 
 Wild for the sports o' tho Fair. 
 
 H
 
 86 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 dear, what can the matter be ? 
 dear, what can the matter he ? 
 dear, what can the matter he ? 
 
 Johnny stai/f; lamj at the. Fair. 
 
 There will be Laii'cls, and their Ladies fu' genty too. 
 Tumblers, an' Tinklers, an' Trokers, in jilonty too ; 
 G-entle an' semple, — the course an' the dainty too ; — 
 
 A' orra folk will be there : 
 There M'ill bo jestin' an' jokin', sac wanton like, 
 Drinkin', an' drivin', an' roarin', an' rantin' like. 
 And lads and their lasses, sae wild gallivantin' like, 
 
 A' thro' the tents o' the Fair. 
 dear, A-r. 
 
 3. 
 
 Drovei's and herds will l)e woarin" their nuwt ahout ; 
 
 Cowies, a-seekin' their caltios, will rout about; 
 
 And callants, an' gilpies, that gang their first out-about, 
 
 A' round the bourachs will stare : 
 And that drnckiii neer-do-weell, Johnny M'Killigan, 
 Will screw up his jdpes till they drone an' tlu'V squerl 
 
 auain. 
 An' sft a' the hizzics to loup an' to reel again, 
 
 •Tiggin' like jads at the b\iir. 
 (^ driir, «(-'•. 
 
 w.
 
 SCOTTI.SH MHl.ObJEft. 87 
 
 4. 
 
 There will be CTanjivels and Cairds wi' their baggie too 
 Wattie the warlock, and auld spaewife ]\Ia_i,'gie too ; 
 And Serjeants recruitin', sae brisk an' sae brag^ie too, 
 
 Hookin' the lads in their snare : 
 Douce muirland bodies their uaigs will be tetherin', 
 Wild beasts and round-ahouts a' will be gatherin' ; 
 And twa, at a swap, ow'r their yill will be bletheriu', 
 
 Noddin' half fou at the Fair. 
 dear, ti-c. 
 
 o. 
 
 There, for their fairin", tiic bairns will be l)rangliir, 
 Thimblers and Flats at their game will be wrangUii', 
 And after their sweethearts the lads will be danglin', 
 
 Buskit sae l)raw and sae rare : 
 There cunnin' Coupers theii- naigs will be paciu' out, 
 Rough randy Sta'-wives their customers facin' out, 
 And reivers and rogues by the Beakies* a-chasiu' out, 
 
 Scuddin' like scamps frae the Fair. 
 dear, <i-c. 
 
 6. 
 
 0, had I but keepit my mind to hae gane w i' him, 
 Xae ane o' a' that waff set sud hae been wi' him, 
 Nor lang loupin' limmers had dar'd to be seen wi' him, 
 A' dizzen'd out for a Hare : 
 
 * i^oliceiiien.
 
 88 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 But cronies and cads will be watchin' to seek him in, 
 Publics and change-houses ettlin' to steek him in ; 
 And Mall, Meci, an' Shusy, a' ready to cleik him in, 
 Lookin' for lads at the Fair. 
 dear, dec. . 
 
 7. 
 He promis'd to coff me a gown o' the genty white, 
 Ballads an' burdens, to sing like a Lintiwhite, 
 But 0, I wad loor he cam' back to me empty quite, 
 Ne'er gaw'n a-outin' nae mair. 
 dear, what can the matter he ? 
 dear, what can the matter he ? 
 dear, what can the matter he ? 
 
 Johnny stays lamj at the Fair. 
 
 XXXVII. OW'R THE MUIR, AMANO THE 
 HEATHER ; 
 
 OK, 
 
 THE EMIGRANTS. 
 
 This air is romm<inly played or sung witli a quick luove- 
 inent, resembling what, in Scotland, \vc call a Lilt: iUit, liki' 
 many others of this character, when given moderately slow, it 
 possesses a character tender, and even pathetic. It therefore 
 seemed to the Author not ill adapted to express the feelings 
 of Scottish emigrants, driven from their country by the change 
 which sheep-farming has introduced in tlic Highlands. The
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIKS. 89 
 
 words composed for it by Jian Glover, a vvjindfriiig feiiiHle 
 Tinker, or Stroller, of Ayrshire, so grapliically described bv 
 Kurns are given in Chambfrs' »SW^.», vol. i./p. 54, and are 
 wonderfully good, considering the source from which they 
 sprung: IJut the following are on a quit<- different design. 
 The Auth)r has hoard older words; but they are not present- 
 able, nor in any degree worthy of the air. 
 
 1. 
 
 At length comes out the stern command, 
 
 That ends our doubt, and eerie swither ; 
 And we maun leave our native land 
 And bonny hills o' bloomin' heather. 
 Ow'r the Muir, anumy the heather, 
 Ow^r the Muir, amamj the hetither : 
 
 And we maun leave our native had 
 Amang the bonny bloomin'' heather. 
 
 2. 
 Lassie, are ye free to gae 
 
 Thro' ragin' seas, and stormy weather, 
 And leave our peacet'u' glen for aye, 
 That lyes amang the bloomin' heather. 
 Ow^r the Muir, dec. 
 
 3. 
 
 For, where we wont our kye to feed, 
 And wee pet yow at e'en to tether. 
 The stranger comes to tak' our bread, 
 And drive us frae our liills o' heather. 
 Ow'r the Muir, dr. 
 
 h2
 
 90 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 4. 
 
 But as forlorn we wander far 
 
 Thro' lanesome wilds, and ken na whither, 
 C)ur hearts will turn to sweet Brae Mar, 
 
 And a' our honny hills o' heather. 
 Ow^r the Mttir, itc. 
 
 5. 
 
 And tho' it brina: a sweet relief 
 The love we hear to ane anither, 
 
 E'en love it canna heal my grief 
 To leave thae bonny hills o' heather. 
 Ow^r the Miiir, <tc. 
 
 6. 
 
 But if that wo maun cross the main, 
 Sweet lassie, let us gans: thegither : 
 
 Yet, oh ! we ne'er shall see again 
 Sic bonny hills o' bloomin' heather. 
 Ow'r the Muir, dec.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 91 
 
 XXXVIII. MY SAILOR'S AWA. 
 
 TuNE^ — The tailor fell tlirn'' the bed, thimble an' a . 
 
 This air, in spite of a name so uncomely, is sweet and 
 simple. The following words bear no resemblance to those 
 formerly adapted to the air. 
 
 1. 
 
 The lasses o' Largs they are bonny and braw, 
 
 An' the Fairs they are ringin' wi' sport an' gatiaw ; 
 
 But a' wae an' weary, for want o' n»y deary, 
 I canna tak' part in their daffin' ava. 
 
 0, wlien will my Laddie come hame again, 
 Winsome an' waly, the ilower o' them a' ? 
 
 The thought o' our meetin' it dries up my greetin', 
 An' cheers my puir heart when my sailor 's awa'. 
 
 2. 
 
 Tho' nae ane was like him in l)ower or in ha', 
 0' siller an' gowd his providin' was sma' ; 
 
 Nae stockin' or mailin', nae chaffin' or dealin', 
 An' gear, or house-plenish, he had nane ava' ; 
 
 But, cockin' his bannet, says he, I will win it ; 
 
 I '11 aif to the Indies, an' sail far awa' ; 
 1 '11 stick to the Tiller, and bring rowth o' siller, 
 
 An' wed my ain Lassie, in spite o' them a'.
 
 92 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 
 My Daddy wad match me wi' Bauldy M'Craw, 
 The auld crookit carle that bides at the Ha' ; 
 
 He hosts an' he wheezes, he hirples au' heezies ; 
 What cou'd a young Lassie do wi' liini ava' ? 
 
 Na, na, — the Saih)r 's the lad for ine ; 
 
 Sae stalwart an' stately, sae brisk ari' sae braw ; 
 An', tho' we are partit, I '11 ay be true-heartit, 
 
 An' think o' nae ither when Willie 's awa'. 
 
 4. 
 
 I caiuia gae buskit, I cainia gae braw, 
 
 Tho' ance I was dizzon'd the 1)est o' them a' ; 
 
 At fair or at nicetin', at ploy or house-heatin", 
 I canna tak' heart to gae to them ava' : 
 
 But Goodness be near him, and ill never sU'tr him, 
 And hame-comin' breezes fu' saft may they blaw ; 
 
 Till, true to the Tiller, wi' gowd an' wi' siller, 
 He come to his Lassie, and ne'er gang awa'.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 93 
 
 XXXIX. NO TOM, NO. 
 
 This is a pleasant and lively air ; but the Author has some 
 doubts whether it belongs to Scotland. Such of the former 
 words as he has heard are scarcely presentable. 
 
 1. 
 
 Tom the Miller was a stealer 
 
 Of the pretty maidens' hearts ; 
 But, free ranger, scorning danger, 
 
 Still he laugh'd at Cupid's darts : 
 Till young Nancy took his fancy ; 
 
 Then, to speak he was not slow : 
 Can you love me ? — Can you love me ? — 
 
 But she answer'd. No, no ; 
 
 No Tom, no Tom, no Tom, no. 
 
 Think again, my Vjonny Blue-Ei/es, 
 
 I am strappin', stout, and tall ; 
 I 've got two arms, two legs, two eyes. 
 
 And one heart that 's worth them all 
 On the green none lighter foot it ; 
 
 None the pipe more sweetly blow ; 
 How your pretty voice would suit it : — 
 
 But she answer'd. No, no ; 
 
 No Tom, no Tom, no Tom, no.
 
 9-1 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 o. 
 
 Trust me, (Tiri, I'll toil and trudge it, 
 
 All the year, from morn till night ; 
 AVet or dry, I '11 never grudge it, 
 
 To keej) home all trim and tight : 
 Warm and true, Love, still to you, Love, 
 
 Change or chill I '11 never know ; 
 Come, cease pouting; — why this doubting ?- 
 
 Still she answer'd, No, no ; 
 
 No Tom, no Tom, no Tom, no. 
 
 4. 
 
 Tc»m then smartly turn'd the tables, 
 
 Cock'd his cap, and wheel'd him round :- 
 I '11 not mope in sack or sables, 
 
 While a lass is to l)e found : 
 Pretty Kitty will have pity ; — 
 
 I '11 to lier a-wooing go ; — 
 She will prize me ; — you despise me ; — 
 
 Quick she answia-'d, No, no ; 
 
 No Tom, no Tom, no Tom, no.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 95 
 
 XL. THE BROOM 0' THE COWDEN 
 KNOWES. 
 
 This beautiful pastoral air is alluded to liy Air Dauney, in 
 Ills Dissertation on the Skene MS., p. 142, under the name of The 
 bonnie Broom, lie considers its date to be about the year 1675. 
 The words jjublished by lianisay, in his Tea-Table Miscellanv, are 
 given in Chambers^ Sou<js, vol. i., p. 247, but do not rise above 
 mediocrity. The air is also given in Wood's So n if s of Scotland, 
 vol. i., p. 56, with new words by Mr Giliillan. These are of 
 such merit, that, had the Author seen them before he wrote 
 the following, he would scarcely have ventured on the com- 
 petition. Cowden Knoives, the place celebrated in tl>e song, 
 is situated on the river Leader, in Berwickshire. 
 
 1. 
 
 When far awa' frae Cowdeu's boiiiiy haugh, 
 
 Prae Leader wimplin' clear ; 
 I .sit my lane, an' think o' days that's .i-ane, 
 
 0' days haith sad an' dear. 
 
 the Broom, the honny, honny Broom, 
 The Broom, o' the Cowden Knowes ; 
 
 1 wish I were arming the yelloio Broom, 
 A-herdin'' o' my yoxvs : 
 
 the Broom, the bonny, honny Broom. 
 
 And Jeany fair she aft wad meet me tliere, 
 
 Sweet as the rose in June : 
 We little fear'd the heavy, heavy weii-d 
 
 AVad part us twa sae soon. 
 the Broom, <kc.
 
 96 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 
 Amaug the Broom, sae bright wi' yellow bloom. 
 
 We trystit ay the same ; 
 And ow'r the brae, when her wee lambs did stray, 
 
 I wear'd them canny hame. 
 the Broom, drc. 
 
 4. 
 
 How sweet to share the saft and caller air, 
 
 The grass sae fresh and green ; 
 And, the' her luve she wadna free declare, 
 
 It nieltit in her een. 
 the Brcom, th-. 
 
 5. 
 
 But a' gaed wrang, and I was bowne, e'er lang, 
 
 To cross the roarin' faem : 
 Her puir auld Daddy was na fit to gang ; — 
 
 She stay'd wi' him at hame. 
 the Broom, dtc. 
 
 6. 
 Sae, ow'r the sea she cou'dna fidlow me, 
 
 Or cast her lot wi' mine ; 
 And, wae to part, my sad an' dowie heart, 
 It has na cheer'd sinsyne. 
 the Broom, ttv.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 97 
 
 XLI. THE LASSIE 'S LOST HER SILKEN 
 
 SNOOD. 
 
 This air appears to the Author to possess much beauty, de- 
 licacy, and expression. There is a set of words given in 
 Chambers' Sonijs, vol. ii., p. 532: but, of these, the Author 
 has only preserved the first stanza, including the Burden, 
 though with some variation. The rest of the following words 
 are on a quite dififerent design. 
 
 In regard to two former songs, on designs similar to the 
 present, No. 1 and No. 4, the Author may observe that it was 
 his intention to adapt the following words to a somewhat 
 higher grade of the Military profession (often exposed to little 
 less hardship than the lower), and one more in unison with the 
 delicacy of the air. The words are supposed to come, not 
 from the lover, but from a sympathizing friend. 
 
 1. 
 
 The Lassie 's lost her silken snood, 
 
 That band her hair sae yellow ; 
 She '.s ffi'en her hand to the Lad she looW, 
 
 He was a gallant fellow. 
 Then twine it weell, my bonny doo, 
 
 Then twine it weell the plaidie ; 
 For ye maun .arana; the warld thro', 
 
 A wandorin' Soger's Lady. 
 
 2. 
 
 Lassie, ye maun thole to gang 
 Thro' poortith and thro' sorrow ; 
 
 And if the day shou'd a' gae wrang, 
 Hope better for the morrow. 
 
 Then twine it weell, dx.
 
 98 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 
 For life is hut an April day, 
 Now shootiu', and now shinin' ; 
 
 Yet Love can light the weary way, 
 And soften a' repining : 
 
 Then twine your plaid, my honny doo, 
 And ay be up and ready ; 
 
 For ye maun gang the warld thro\ 
 A wanderin' Soger's Lady. 
 
 XLII. THE YBLLOW-HATR'D LADDIE. 
 
 This is a sweet and simple air ; and is particularly j)leasing 
 when harmonised for two voices. Chambers, in his Scottish 
 Sonps (vol. i., pp. 311, 312), gives two sets of words ; the one 
 by Allan Uamsay, the other of an older date, and both printed 
 in his Tea-Tahh: Miscellany. Neither are, however, of such 
 merit as to preclude further attempts. The first of the fol- 
 lowing stanzas is taken from Uamsay, with one or two slight 
 variations; the rest are new. 
 
 L 
 
 In April, when primroses paint the sweet plain. 
 And summer approaehing rejoices the swain; 
 Wi^ the Ydlow-hair'd Laddie I often would go 
 To glens where the birk and the hawthorn-tree grow.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 99 
 
 2. 
 
 light was his step when he danced on the green ; 
 And blithe was the blink o' his bonny blue eeu : 
 His cheek like the rose, and his brow like the snaw; 
 But his saft yellow hair it was sweeter than a'. 
 
 He gaed to the warfare ; he fought, and he toil'd ; 
 For his heart it was bold, tho' his face it was mild; 
 He brav'd every danger on sea or on shore ; 
 And I shed the salt tear at the hardships he bore. 
 
 But peace came at last : — he return'd to my arms 
 Frae perils and wand'rings, — frae hardships and 
 
 harms ; 
 And my heart is at rest frae its trouble and pain, 
 For now I've my Yellow-hair'd Laddie again.
 
 100 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XLIII. WHISTLE OWR THE LAVE O^T. 
 
 This air is usually sung quick, and considered as little better 
 than burlesque, or, at most, a mere Lilt ; yet, when sung mode- 
 rately slow, it possesses both beauty and delicacy. It is alluded 
 to by Mr Dauney, in his Dissertation, p. 145, under the name 
 of My Ladie Monteith^s Lament. It is also given in TVood's 
 Songs (vol. ii., p. 32), with words by Burns ; but they are on 
 a design quite different from the following. The more ancient 
 words are wholly inadmissible. 
 
 1. 
 
 Johnny, man, ye 're maist a fool ; 
 Ye hae need o' gaw'n to school ; 
 Warld's bliss, or vvarld's dool, 
 
 wha wad he the slave o 't ? 
 If Mischance shou'd ding yc down, 
 Jlise against her wi' a houn' ; 
 Cock your hannet on your crown. 
 
 And whistle ow'r the lave o 't. 
 
 2. 
 
 Fortune aye gaes past our door, 
 Geeks at us because* we 're poor ; 
 For the rich she keeps her store, 
 
 Wha mak' an unco bravu o 't. 
 But her gifts if e'er we liiid, 
 Lightly got, they're lightly tined ; 
 Then shake the gipsy down {\u- wind, 
 
 And whistle ow'r the lave o 't.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. .101 
 
 3. 
 A nee I loo'd a winsome clear, 
 Proud o' kin, but scant o' gear, 
 Sometimes sweet, an' sometimes sweer, 
 
 A bonny job she drave o 't : 
 Till, at last, cam' back my wits, 
 I left her to her dorty fits, 
 Tore my luve-sangs a' to bits, 
 
 An' whistled ow'r the lave o 't. 
 
 4. 
 What tho' poortith, sharp an' dour, 
 Often dash our sweet wi' sour ; 
 An', crouchin' cauld beneath her lour, 
 
 A weary lot we have o 't : 
 Yet, wi' neither land nor rent. 
 No a house to tax or stent ; 
 Gie us but a heart content, 
 
 We '11 whistle ow'r the lave o 't. 
 
 5. 
 
 Whether things gae right or wrang, 
 Sooth, they canna last us lang ; 
 That 's the burden o' my sang, 
 
 And rins thro' ilka stave o 't. 
 Let na then your heart gie way ; 
 Soon will pass our roughsome day ; 
 Fecht it out the best you may. 
 
 And whistle ow'r the lave o 't.
 
 102 
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XLIV. LASSIE, YE SAY YE CANNA GET 
 
 A TOW; 
 
 OK, 
 THE INCONSTANT. 
 
 Tune — Tke bonniest Lass in a' the tuarld. 
 
 This is an air of very considerable beauty. Of the former 
 words the Author has heard little more than the above line, 
 from which it has its name. The date or history of the tune 
 he is unable to give. 
 
 1. 
 
 Lassie, ye say, ye cauna get a tow 
 
 That 's tight or that 's strong ciieugh to tye me ; 
 Oin ye vvinua tak' my honest Avonl, yc vinna tak' my 
 vow : — 
 
 I ask, I ask ye but to try me. 
 
 Lassie, ye say, a woman's trustin' heart 
 
 Wad he ill-wared, and thrown awa', to love me ; 
 
 1 'in lickh' and 1 'in lause, ye say; — I'm light to meet 
 
 and part : - 
 1 ask, I ask ye hut to prove me.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 103 
 
 3. 
 Shall I gang to the field, the noble field of Death, 
 
 Where bullets flee, and levell'd pikes may gore me? 
 When, stretcht upon the bloody sward, I yield my 
 dying breath, 
 Your image will be the last afore me. 
 
 4. 
 Shall I tread on the deck, where raging billows boil, 
 
 Where shipwreck and famine may betide me ? 
 When wandering, a Cast-away, upon the desert soil, 
 
 The thought o' you will ever be beside me. 
 
 5. 
 
 But should I come l)ack, frae ovv'r the stormy main, 
 Wi' heart that could never doubt or vary, 
 
 0, will ye then forgie me. Love, for a' that's come and 
 gane ? 
 0, will you be mine, my bonny Mary ? 
 
 6. 
 
 Sandy, I '11 speak ; — my Love it is nae crime ; — 
 If Love be the price that is to buy ye : — 
 
 Ye need ua gang sac far awa' ; — I ask nae proof but 
 Time ; — 
 For he 's the sure test to try ye.
 
 104 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XLV. CAULD KAIL IN ABERDEEN. 
 
 This pleasant and well-known air has already some very 
 good words. Two sets of these are given in Chamler.t' Songs, 
 vol. i., 2>- -76 ; the first being the original set, the second said 
 to be by the late Duke of Gordon. The first are those with 
 which the Author has been familiar, and he owns that he pre- 
 fers them to the second. In the following words he has merely 
 added four new stanzas to the three former, — carrying on the 
 same idea of a tippling old bachelor, and no admirer of the 
 fair sex. Burns has written words for the air, beginning — 
 " How lang and dreary is the night ;" but they are in quite a 
 different character from the following. 
 
 1. 
 
 There 's canld kail in Aberdeen, 
 
 And castocks in Stra'home ; 
 And ilka lad has gotten his lass, 
 
 But I maun hae my Cogie ; 
 My Co(jie, sirs, my Cogie, sirs, 
 
 I canna want my Cogie ; 
 I wadna gie my ain pint-stoup 
 
 For «' the queans in Bogie. 
 
 2. 
 
 Poor Johnny Sked has gotten a wife,- 
 She scrimps him d' his Cogie ; 
 
 Gin she were mine, upon my life, 
 I \l douk her in the Bogie. 
 
 For weell I like my Cogie, sirs, dr.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 105 
 
 3. 
 I gang thereout, an' tott about, 
 
 Wi' staif an' messan-dogie ; 
 But ay at e'en, sae couth and bein, 
 I cuitle ow'r my Cogie : 
 
 My Co(/ie, sirs, my Cogie, sirs, <&c. 
 
 There's twa-three lads wha scorn the jads 
 
 That blink about the Bogie ; 
 We clear the house, an' sit fu' douce, 
 
 Around our reekin' Cogie. 
 
 For weell we like our Cogie, sirs, <&c. 
 
 5. 
 
 A canty Cooper cam' frao Fife, 
 
 An' wiuns at Kittledrogie ; 
 He kentit weell his saucy wife, 
 
 For toomiu' out his Cogie. 
 
 My Cogie, sirs, my Cogie, sirs, dtc. 
 
 6. 
 
 gie her 't weell, Goodman, quo' I, 
 She 's but a wanton regie ; 
 
 1 trow, it 's a' tint that fa's by ; — 
 
 What gart her coup your Cogie ? 
 For weell we like our Cogie, sirs, dec.
 
 106 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 7. 
 Then here's to ilka honest lad. 
 
 That loos, like me, his Cogie ; 
 But, as for every girnin' jad. 
 
 We m douk her in the Bogie : 
 My Cogie, sirs, my Cogie, sirs, &c. 
 
 XLVI. THE BANKS 0' TWEED. 
 
 This is one of the many melodies which have owed their 
 inspiration to the above beautiful and pastoral stream. There 
 is one called Tweedside, which is well known. The words 
 (first printed in Ramsay's Tea-Table Miscellany) are given in 
 Chambers' Son<js, vol. ii., p. 350. He also gives words by a 
 Lord Yester : But neither of these works is superlative ; nor 
 is that air, in the Author's estimation, so good as the present. 
 There is also, in Wood's Scottish Son<is, vol. i., p. 10-t, one 
 called Tweedside, diflferent both from the above, and from the 
 air now given. The words which the Author has heard to 
 the present air begin — 
 
 "As Jamie Gray gaed blithe his way," &c. ; 
 
 but are not such as can be presented in detail. The first four 
 lines of the following stanzas nearly resemble the old words, 
 but with a few .slight variations. The other stanzas are new. 
 The air is extremely pretty ; but, from its somewhat complex 
 structure, does not seem to be of great antiquity. 
 
 1. 
 
 As Jamie Gray gaed sad his way 
 
 Along the banks o' Tweed, 
 A bonny lass as ever was 
 
 Cam'' trippin'' ow'r the mead.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 107 
 
 He stopt to see wha this might be, — 
 
 This flower aniaiig th(Mn a' ; — 
 But, wi' a start, his flichteriu' heart, 
 
 It tell't afore he saw. 
 
 2. 
 
 Lassie dear, for mony a year 
 Ye keu I 've loo'cl ye true ; 
 
 And cou'd I gain this warld my ain, 
 
 'T\Yad only be for you. 
 But, a' the while, nae cheeriu' smile 
 
 Has lighteu'd on my heart ; 
 And blithe wad be that scornful e'e 
 
 Tho' we shou'd over part. 
 
 3. 
 
 But scornful e'e, and haughty bree. 
 
 It 's unco hard to thole ; 
 And love gainsaid, and hope delay'd, 
 
 They weary out the soul : 
 And soon ye '11 keu the truth I mean, 
 
 For here I daur ua bide : 
 
 1 canna stay to see the day 
 
 That ye 're anither's bride. 
 
 4. 
 
 Her pawky e'e, it glanc'd agee ; — 
 
 Jamie, ye 're to blame 
 To start awa' frae house and ha'. 
 
 And leave your folk at hame.
 
 108 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 His heart up flew, he pree'd her mou' ;- 
 And soon they Avere agreed: — 
 
 She pass'd her life his dautit wife 
 Upon the banks o' Tweed. 
 
 XLVII. LASSIE, CAN YE LOO ME? 
 
 Tune — Carle an^ the kinq come. 
 
 This air has no great merit, but is undoubtedly Scottish ; 
 and is alluded to, as such, by Mr Dauney, in his Dissertation, y>- 
 144, under the name of The new way of wooing. It is adapted, 
 by Ramsay, in the Gentle Shepherd, to the words — " Peggy, now 
 the king "s come," &c., the merit of wliich is but moderate ; 
 but the songs in that charming pastoral are the least conspi- 
 cuous of its beauties. 
 
 1. 
 
 Lassie, can ye loo me ? 
 Lassie, can ye loo me ? 
 
 This, right fain, my hearl wad ken ; — 
 Tell me, can ye loo me ? 
 
 I 'v(! been lnvin', ciiangin', rovin' ; 
 
 Fixin' did l)ut Hey mo ; 
 Phidge your hand in haly l>and, 
 
 That alane can stay me.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 109 
 
 2. 
 Laddie, shou'd I tell, 0, 
 Laddie, shou'd I tell, 0, 
 
 That wad be but sport to ye, 
 Sorrow to mysell, : 
 
 Ye 've been laughin', foolin', daffin' ; 
 
 Leadin' hearts agee, ; 
 Wlia can ken ye dinna mean 
 
 Just the like wi' me, 0. 
 
 3. 
 
 Tell me how to woo ye, 
 Tell me how to woo ye ; 
 
 Hand an' heart, till death us part, 
 I will ever loo ye : 
 
 Foolin', rangin', shiftin', changin', 
 That 's a' ow'r wi' me now ; 
 
 0' the past I 've ta'en my last, 
 Ever true to thee, now. 
 
 4. 
 
 Laddie, I 'm a fool, ; 
 Laddie, I 'm a fool, ; 
 
 Hiding 's vain, — my heart 's your ain, 
 Be 't for bliss or dool, : 
 
 K
 
 110 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 Thus poor womau, — trustin', comin'.- 
 Since the warld began, 0, 
 
 Won by art, her silly heart 
 Yields to fleechin' man, 0. 
 
 XLVIII. MY BONNY HIGHLAND LASSIE, 0. 
 
 With this air the Author has long been familiar, but is un- 
 able to give any other name for it than the above. It is quite 
 different from that formerly alluded to (p. 12), given in Wood's 
 Scottish Son<js (vol. iii., p. 8), under a title which the Author 
 cannot help considering as a misnomer, viz., " 2^he Dtuks dang 
 ow'r my Daddy." The words and air there given (which the 
 Author has known under the name of " My Hi<jkland Lassie, 
 0") are also both different from the present. 
 
 1. 
 
 It 's lang sin' we hao mot, I trow. 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, ;• 
 But a' my thoughts are fi.xt on you, 
 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, O : 
 Ow'r mony seas and lands 1 've gane, 
 But e'er saw like ye never nane. 
 And Hope yet dreams ye '11 be my ain. 
 My lionny Highland Lassie, 0.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. Ill 
 
 I 'm toiliu' 'raang a stranger race, 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, ; 
 Where nane e'er saw your winsome face, 
 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, : 
 But ay, about the close o' day. 
 When wark is done, I lauely stray, 
 And think o' her that 's far away, 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, 0. 
 
 3. 
 
 An' do ye sometimes think on me, 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, ? 
 Else a' my hopes were dash'd agee. 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, : 
 The anchor o' my soul wad gae, 
 Thro' life, withouten stop or stay, 
 I 'd drift, a hopeless Castaway, 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, 0. 
 
 4. 
 
 But Love and Hope they help me thro', 
 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, 0, 
 I strive, an' toil, an' hain, for you, 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, : 
 And when some little store 's possest, 
 A heart content will do the rest : 
 I '11 hie me hame, and we '11 be blest. 
 My bonny Highland Lassie, 0.
 
 112 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 XLIX. THE LOVE TOKEN. 
 
 Tone — The Duke o' Gordoii's dochter gaed to the wood her lane. 
 
 This air is extremely simple, and without any high preten- 
 sions to beauty. The Author recollects it only under the 
 above name ; there is, however, in Chambers" Colkction of 
 Scottish Ballads (p. 331), a long ballad, beginning w^ith the 
 above line, with this difference, that the heroine is called 
 Sinclair, daughter of the Laird of Uoslin, near Edinburgh. 
 The title of the ballad is Captain Wedderbum's Courtship. The 
 following verses are on a quite different design. 
 
 1. 
 
 Robin, is it true, lad, yc 've ta'eu nao thought o" me, 
 But buckled wi' the Black-Watch* to cross the ragin' 
 
 sea? 
 What comfort can betide me, — what good can o'er 
 
 befa',— 
 What blessin' can abide me, — when ye are far awa' ? 
 
 wacfu' was the moniiu', and waoiu' was the e'en, 
 Ye fancied first to leave me, an' down to Aberdeen ; 
 The drums an' pipes they sounded, the feathers wav'd 
 
 sao braw, 
 The Histiu^ fjuinca tempit, and ye was wiled awa'. 
 
 * The 42d Regiment of Highlanders.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 113 
 
 3. 
 But, Robin, thiuk o' me, lad, — hae pity on my pain, — 
 The Sergeant lad will tak' the smart* and let ye aft' 
 
 again ; 
 Wi' joy 1 '11 gie ray penny-fee, an' borrow round them a'. 
 To keep my ain true Laddie frae sailin' far awa'. 
 
 4. 
 Ah, na ! — my bouny Mary, — in this we canua 'gree ; 
 I '11 join the gallant Highland boys, and ow'r the roarin' 
 
 sea ; 
 And when it comes, wi' shouts and drums, the good 
 
 claymore to draw. 
 The thought o' you will fire me, when 1 am far awa'. 
 
 5. 
 
 An' then, when I come hame again, your Soger lad sae 
 true, 
 
 Wi' honour fair, and gowps o' gear, and a' to share wi' 
 you; 
 
 How proud you'll be to welcome me, sae hearty, brisk 
 
 an' bi'aw, 
 
 Wha ne'er forgat his Lassie when he was far awa'. 
 
 6. 
 
 Robin, — if it maun be, — ae kiss wi' tearful e'e ; — 
 Here, tak' this ring, and keep it sure, when ye are ow'r 
 the sea ; 
 
 * Smart-money for buying off" a recruit. 
 
 k2
 
 114 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 And this wee siller sixpence I 've brak in pieces twa, 
 Sae may our hearts be hafflins, when we are far awa'. 
 
 7. 
 Thanks, Mary, for your tokens ; — they mak' me blithe 
 
 an' proud ; 
 My love shall be as lasting as siller, or as gowd ; 
 An' when we meet, our hearts will fit, like thae wee 
 
 pieces twa, 
 To live in joy an' true-love, and never part ava'. 
 
 L. LASSIE 0' MY HEART. 
 
 Tune — Captain Kidd. 
 
 The unfortunate individual who gives name to this song, 
 was an officer of the British navy, and was sent out in the 
 year 1G9G, with a fine frigate, to cruise against pirates in the 
 Indian .Seas. After much success in this pursuit, he, in a 
 fatal hour, was tempted to become a pirate himself, and to 
 cruise against the lawful European commerce. lie was ulti- 
 mately taken prisoner, after a desperate engagement with a 
 Hi-itisli nian-oC-war, and hrouglit home to England, wliere, 
 with most of Jiis crew, lie was tried and executed for jiiriicy.''* 
 
 His fate excited much synipatliy, and among otlier mani- 
 festations of it was the present song. The air is simple and 
 
 • Soo I.ord Cani])bcira Lives of the Chancellors, vol. iv., p. HC. Life 
 o{ Lord Sumcra.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 115 
 
 plaintive, but the only part of the words which the Author 
 recollects is the first verse, as follows : — 
 
 " My name is Captain Kidd, 
 
 As I sail, as I sail ; 
 My name is Captain Kidd, 
 
 As I sail ; 
 My name is Captain Kidd, 
 As I sail the ocean wide, 
 With a reef on every side 
 
 For the gale." 
 
 The following words are on a design entirely different. 
 
 Lassie o' my heart, 
 
 Ye 're awa', ye 're awa' ; 
 Lassie o' my heart, 
 
 Ye 're awa' : 
 Lassie o' my heart, 
 Sae free frae guile and art, 
 How sair it was to part 
 'Tween us twa. 
 
 2. 
 
 Love, ye 're thrawart still 
 To the poor, to the poor ; 
 
 Love, ye 're thrawart still 
 To the poor : 
 
 Love, ye 're thrawart still. 
 
 And wo maun thole the ill ; 
 
 And part against our will, 
 'Cause we 're poor.
 
 116 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 
 And life it 's but a moil 
 At the best, at the best ; 
 
 And life it 's but a moil 
 At the best : 
 
 And life it 's but a moil ; 
 
 We struggle on a while, 
 
 Then, weary wi' our toil, 
 Gang to rest. 
 
 4. 
 
 Lassie, ye are gane 
 
 Ow'r the sea, ow'r the sea ; 
 Lassie, ye are gane 
 
 Ow'r the sea : 
 Lassie, ye are gane, 
 And I am left my lane. 
 To mourn my True-love ta'en 
 Ay frae me.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 117 
 
 LI. WHA WAD LIPPBN TO THE WARLD'S 
 HELPIN' ? 
 
 Of this air, which possesses considerable beauty, the Author 
 is unable to give the name ; nor has he ever heard it adapted to 
 words. Its character is of that middle tone which suits rather 
 reflection than feeling or passion ; and with such words, ac- 
 cordingly, he has attempted to supply it. 
 
 1. 
 
 wha wad lippen to the warld's lielpin' ? 
 
 Wha be dazzled wi' the hlindiii' o 't ? 
 When poortith pinches, and the storm is skelpin', 
 
 Sma' the snieddura to be mindin' o 't. 
 And when we hirple down the hill, and Fortune flees 
 awa', 
 
 And life has lost the bonny bloom and bravery o't; 
 The favour o' the warld ye may count at nought ava. 
 
 And naething thriviu' but the knavery o 't. 
 
 2. 
 
 See Fortune heap in' on the fat an' fozy, 
 
 Lands, an' mailings, an' the jewels fine ; 
 A coach to ride in, and a fire-side cozy ; — 
 
 Fondly drcamiu' that they ne'er will tine : 
 Thro' pleasant ways, an' simmer days, abield frae wind 
 and rain, 
 
 In jollity an' joy they keep a-flauntin', ; 
 They care na for anither's lot, sae vogie o' their ain. 
 
 And scorn their neebour that 's a-wantin', 0.
 
 118 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 See men a', withershins, thro' life a-strivin', 
 
 Flee frae poverty, like Ghaist or Deil ; 
 But, e'er they win the post, grim Death arrivin', 
 
 Ends the jostle that they loo sae weell : 
 Ay fcchtin' in the warld's ways, — thro' chango o' good 
 and ill, — 
 Life's Lottery they try the odd>s and evens o 't : 
 They ram their hands in Fortune's poke ; and when they 
 hae their fill, 
 The Lags are welcome to the leavings o 't. 
 
 4. 
 
 Then bauldly, Brithers, let us hear our hidin', 
 
 Stoutly battle wi' tho blasts that blaw ; 
 Ay by courage for the warst providin'. 
 
 Heaven and oursclls lot us thank for a' : 
 Then scorn to lean on ithcrs. Boys, — and never be 
 dismay'd, 
 
 Altho' the storms o' life may afton skelp ye, ; 
 And, when your canny Friends they see ye dinna want 
 their aid. 
 
 They '11 a' be free eneugh to help ye, 0. 
 
 1
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 119 
 
 LII. LASSIE, CAN YE THINK TO LEAVE 
 
 MB? 
 
 Of this air the Author can give very little account, — not 
 even the name : But he thinks tliat it vi^as published by Neil 
 (jow, in his Strathspeys, as adapted by him from an old 
 Highland melody. It has considerable beauty and pathos, 
 when played, as the Author has heard it, slowly and with 
 taste, on the violin ; but he never saw or heard any words 
 adapted to it. 
 
 Lassie, can ye think to leave me ? 
 Sure ye say it but to grieve me ; 
 Yet I trust ye '11 ne'er deceive me, 
 
 Yet ye are my ain Lassie : 
 A' the bliss I e'er cou'd see 
 Lighten'd frae that bonny e'e ; 
 Harder hap I ne'er can dree 
 
 Than your cauld disdain, Lassie. 
 
 2. 
 
 Life it wears in dool and sorrow. 
 Care to-day, and fear to-morrow ; 
 Yet frae Love a ray we borrow, 
 
 Grlintin' thro' the gloom, Lassie : 
 But if Love prove fause at last, 
 A' our sky is overcast, 
 Low we lye beneath the blast, 
 
 Wither'd in the bloom. Lassie.
 
 120 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 3. 
 
 Then what recks a warld's treasure, 
 Sport or pastime, ease or pleasure. 
 Honours heap'd in ample measure, 
 
 Nocht can fill the void. Lassie ; 
 Vain are a' the helps o' art, 
 Hope wi' Love will soon depart, 
 And, within the widow'd heart, 
 
 Peace nae mair ahide, Lassie. 
 
 4. 
 
 Speak, then. Lassie, — speak sincerely ;- 
 Ye can read my heart fu' clearly ; 
 Ance I thought ye loo'd me dearly, 
 
 Ance ye was my ain Lassie : 
 Come, let cauld oflbnce give way; — 
 Cloud nae mair our simmer day : — 
 what dreary words to say, 
 
 We '11 ne'er meet affain. Lassie.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 121 
 
 LIIL CiENTLE JEANIE 0' THE GVLEN. 
 
 Tune — Tibbie Fowler o' the Glen. 
 
 This popular air is usually joined to words which are al- 
 most burlesque, though they exhibit much of that quiet sati- 
 rical humour so common in our native minstrelsy. They are 
 given by Chambers, vol. ii., p. 425. The air, however, when 
 sung moderately slow, is not unadapted to words of a graver 
 and more tender character. 
 
 1. 
 
 L-rentle Jeanie o' the Cllen 
 
 Has wooers up an' dowu the water, 
 Ay they 're comin' butt an' ben 
 
 Ay, ay they 're wooin' at her : 
 Pensie lads, wi' braws an' gauds, — 
 
 Jock the laird, and Tam the miller ;- 
 Her sweet grace, her bonny face. 
 
 It brings them a' a-wooin' till her. 
 
 Gentle Jeanie o' the Glen, 
 Ow^r monv wooiri' at her ; 
 
 Ay they We comin'' butt an'' ben, 
 Ay, ay ivooin' at her. 
 
 L
 
 122 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 2. 
 
 Hpv Daddy has baitli stirk and cow, 
 
 An' yows, wi' bonny bughts to pen* them 
 Her Minny she has taits o' woo', 
 
 And her the only baivn atween them : 
 Frae far awa', young birkies braw, 
 
 And wealthy carles come to see her : 
 AVhat chance for mo, amang them a', 
 
 Wha only ha'e a heart to gi'e her ? 
 Gentle Jeanie, dbc. 
 
 3. 
 
 Yet weell I trow that hazlc e'e 
 
 It looks fu' kind and sweet upon me ; 
 Nae scorn or scolfm' there I see, 
 
 It wasna saucy airs that won me : 
 Laird Jock he bade her to the Fair, 
 
 An' mony a braw he shor'd to gi'e her ; 
 But no ! — she wadna meet him there, — 
 
 For I was trystit to gao wi' her. 
 Gentle Jennie, d-c. 
 
 4. 
 
 Then I'll bo bauld my mind to toll; — 
 Faint heart it never wan fair Lady ; — 
 
 But first I '11 try the lass hersoU ;— 
 1 'ill 11(1 i\\\\\ free to face hei- Daddy : 
 
 * Usually pronounced, in Scotland, y'ecn.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 123 
 
 Yet Aveell he loo's his darlin' Joan, 
 And lier kind Miuny loo's her better ; 
 
 An', if I can her fancy win, 
 
 I'll aihlins hae the luck to get her. 
 Gentle Jeanie, <kc. 
 
 LIV. WAR-SONCI OF THE .SWISS. 
 
 This lyric may be supposed to have been sung by tlie Swiss 
 army, under William Tell, on the morning of the battle of 
 Morgarten, 18th November 1315. On that day the Austrian 
 forces, amounting to 20,000 men, were attacked and defeated 
 by the Swiss, who numbered only 1300; — -and who. by that 
 victory, established the liberties of their country. 
 
 As to the air to which these words should be sung, the 
 performer must use his own discretion, as the Author has not 
 yet been able to satisfy himself on this point. 
 
 1. 
 
 What vengeance for a people's wrongs, 
 
 When bad men grind the good ? — 
 We '11 tell our shame in battle-songs, 
 And wash it out in blood. 
 We '11 seek the fight 
 Where Poemen smite. 
 And prosper as we may : 
 For ne'er yet fell so dark a night 
 But brought the coming day.
 
 124 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 2. 
 Down ! Down with the oppressor's hall !- 
 
 His towers shall be laid low I — 
 Upon his hearth his head shall fall, 
 And we will give the blow : 
 The deeds of guilt, 
 The blood that 's spilt, 
 Fill sufferance to the brim ; 
 And what to us the Despot dealt, 
 That shall we deal to him. 
 
 3. 
 
 Blood for blood, saith Holy Law; — 
 
 And we will keep it true : — 
 Our sharpeu'd swords we long to draw, 
 And try their edge on you. 
 Come on ! — Come on ! — 
 The battle 's won ! — 
 Our hearts can never lie ! — 
 For all their pulses beat as one. 
 To conquer or to die. 
 
 4. 
 
 Death ! Death to tlic inluiman band ! — 
 Our sloth we do condemn : — 
 
 Thoy made a (irave-yard of our land; — 
 We '11 make a worse to them. 
 
 I
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 125 
 
 Then, haste, disphiy 
 
 Our Banners gay ; — 
 Strike up the doubling druiii : — 
 Life, Glory, Freedom, call : — Away ! — 
 March ! March ! — The hour is come. 
 
 LV. THE IRISHMAN TO HIS LOVE. 
 
 Tune — ('arrichfertjuf. 
 
 This excellent air, the Author fears, is the undoubted pro- 
 perty of our Sister Isle ; and he has, therefore, adapted the 
 words to a denizen of that country. He has some recollection 
 of having heard this air sung by the late Sir Alexander 
 Boswell, of Auchinleck, with words of his own composition, 
 on a design somewhat similar to the following: And it is not 
 imp()ssil)le that part of these words may be unconsciously re- 
 tained in the present ; but ho does not think that this can be 
 to any great extent. 
 
 1. 
 
 Molly, my darlin', how long will you tarry, 
 
 And vex youi- poor Dermot with doulit and delay ? 
 
 1 thought, albrc this, you 'd ha' promis'd to marry, 
 An' driv' all my grief and my sorrow away : 
 
 Then say you are willing ; 
 
 And cease to he killing 
 Your own faithful Deriuot.with scorn and disdain : 
 
 Ach, Joy ! will you but marry me ? 
 Do, — and I never will ax yon again.
 
 126 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 2. 
 
 You know, ■when to Donnyhrook last I was goin', 
 
 You pray'd of me neither to drink nor to fight ; 
 Tho' the Boys came about me, and fain would be doin' 
 1 left them, and went to bed sober at night : 
 One drop of the Cratur\ 
 To cheer human natur', 
 Was all that I took in the storm and the rain : 
 
 Ach, Joy ! will you but marry me ? 
 Do, — and I n(^ver will ax you again. 
 
 3. 
 
 And there 's pretty Judy, that doats on me deai'ly, 
 
 And she is the lass that has plenty of store ; 
 A house and a garden, — with Tenpenuies yearly, — 
 A cow in the shod, and a mat on the floor : 
 But, a fig for her money ! 
 For you are my Honey, — 
 Tlie girl that dumfounders my heart and my bi-ain 
 
 Ach, Joy ! will you but marry me ? 
 Do, — and I never will ax you again. 
 
 4. 
 
 Then til ink what a nice pretty cot for our dwollin', 
 Witli all things so trig and so iidy around ; 
 
 A snug little clout, with a ditch and a well in. 
 Anil prattiis to cover our paddock o' ground :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 127 
 
 Our goat on the tliatchin', 
 
 Our tike a rat-eatchin\ 
 Our pig ill the parlour, so nate and so dam : 
 
 Acli, Joy ! will you but marry me ? 
 Do, — and I never will ax you again. 
 
 5. 
 And ould Aunty Katy, and Sheelah, my cousin, 
 
 Must still have their share in our pot and our cup ; 
 And piggy and pigeons, and babies a dozen, 
 Will keep us so cheery at bite and at sup : 
 Then, after our stuffin'. 
 The pipe gently putRu', 
 We wash it all down with a drop of Potheen : 
 
 Ach, Joy ! will you but marry me ? 
 Do, — and I never will ax you again. 
 
 6. 
 
 And then, on the Sunday, we 're bound for the Meetin', 
 
 O'er bog and o'er mountain, and ten mile of way ; 
 When friends gather round us, and joyfully greetin', 
 We join, for ourselves and ould Erin to pray : 
 Then, arrah ! my jewel, 
 No longer be cruel ; — 
 I can 't speak it out, — but you know what I mane; — 
 
 Ach, Joy I will you but nuirry me ? 
 Do, — and I never will ax you again.
 
 128 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 LVI. THE RAILWAY (GARLAND. 
 
 SCKNE, LONDON — TIME, 1845 — CHORUS OF PKOJECTOKS, 
 OOKTRACTOHS, MANAGERS, SHARE-HOLDERS. ENGI- 
 NEERS, LAWYERS, ATTORNEYS, &C. &C. — WITH FTLL 
 ACCOMPANIMENT. 
 
 Tune — Let the Toast pass. 
 
 This was written in the very summit and access of the 
 Itailwatj Mania. The hint of both sujyect and tune was 
 taken from a newspaper ; but the Author was not quite satis- 
 tied with the words there supplied, and attempted others of 
 his own. The subject has been since invested witli a some- 
 what painful interest, from the disastrous consequences which 
 have followed that national insanity : JJut, as similar epide- 
 mics may recur in future, warnings are never unseasonable. 
 
 1. 
 
 ITcrp '.-; to our Scrip tliat is uj) at Fifteen, 
 
 Ami .soon may it gallop to Fiftfi ; 
 Wo first take the bold and extravagant in, 
 And then hook tho prudent and thrifty ; 
 Let the Bills pass ; 
 Drink oft' your ji^la.ss ; 
 And thank your good stars Johnny Bull is an ass. 
 
 line '.s to tilt' puthng, the proi;. and tin- pay ; 
 
 And herti 's to the irosts of the Journey ; 
 Here's to the Lawyer who spouts by the day, 
 
 And lierc's to the jobbing Attorney :
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 129 
 
 Let the Bills pass, 
 Pocket your brass, 
 And joiu all our heads to make Johnny an ass. 
 
 3. 
 Here 's to the Gradients, the Shafts, and the Bores, 
 
 That slide us thro' hill and thro' city ; 
 Here 's to the Witnesses swearing by scores, 
 And here 's to the bothcr'd Committee. 
 Let the Bills pass, 
 Millions amass. 
 And thank your kind stars jolly John is an ass. 
 
 4. 
 
 Here 's to the trusty and bold Engineer, 
 Who never yet doubted or blunder'd ; 
 This — 07ie in fifty will mount without fear, 
 That— boggles at One in a hundred. 
 Let the Bills pass. 
 Start your First Glass, 
 And thank your kind stars you' ve to do with an ass. 
 
 5. 
 
 At the Oaks or the Derby, no through-going Lee/ 
 
 So jockeys the Snob and the Flat, sir ; 
 Here wo inveigle our dear sister Peg, 
 And there we cajole brother Pat, sir. 
 Let the Bills pass. 
 Haul in the brass, 
 And thank your good stars daddy John is an ass.
 
 130 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 6. 
 
 Our carriages smash by escaping the rail, 
 
 A uumscuU is neat cut in two, sir : 
 But as long as our Dividends rise in the scale, 
 With this we have nothing to do, sir. 
 Let the Bills pass. 
 Profits amass, 
 And thank your good stars Bully John is an ass. 
 
 7. 
 Industry, — Enterprise, — that's all the go, — 
 Such doctrines how noble and fine, sir ; — 
 Success to your job, brother Rail, — but you know 
 You must not encroach upon mine, sir. 
 Let the Bills pass, 
 Sweep oil" the brass. 
 And thank the kind stars that our Bull is an ass. 
 
 8. 
 Then long may our Stock and our Dividends rise, 
 
 May hoax and humhuij never fall, sir ; 
 Tho' some get a blank, and some got a prize. 
 We make a good prey of them all, sir. 
 Let tho Bills pass. 
 Drink off your glass, 
 Fill- tlic name of .John Bull it is chang'd to ./acA- i4s.«.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 131 
 
 LVTI. COMB AWAY ! COME AWAY ! 
 A MAY-DAY CAROL. 
 
 Tyrolese Melody. 
 
 This is one of those National Airs which Avere so beauti- 
 fully sung, in this country, several years ago, by the Rayner 
 Family, under the name of The Tyrolese Minstrels. What its 
 subject was, in the original language, the Author knows not ; 
 but its sprightly and pleasant character seemed to suggest it 
 as not unsuitable for a May-day Carol. 
 
 1. 
 
 Come away ! Come away ! Let us dance round the May ; 
 
 Our Pole stands erect on the green : 
 Trip along ! Trip along ! with the pipe and the song, 
 To carol our May's bonny Queen : 
 Let Strife hide his head ; 
 Send old Care to bed ; 
 Let blithe hearts abound ; 
 Let bumpers go round ; , 
 
 Let voices be gay, and keep time to the lay 
 That welcomes our May's bonny Queen. 
 
 How sweet are the woodlands in young merry May, 
 
 With hedge-rows and alleys between ; 
 Where the flocks ever stray, and the cowslips are gay' 
 
 And the meadows so fresh and so green :
 
 132 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 The breeze piping loud ; 
 The sun-brighten'd cloud ; 
 The bird in the bower ; 
 The bee on the flower ; 
 While Spring will combine all her stores to entwine 
 A garland to deck our fair Queen. 
 
 3. 
 
 But vain is the pastime, the dance, and the song, 
 
 If gloom overshadow the scene ; 
 Then, quick, banish sorrow, ye old and ye young, 
 Our sports are a cure for the spleen : 
 Leave sad thoughts behind ; 
 Ciive Avoes to the wind ; 
 Let joy ever rest 
 A balm in your breast ; 
 Your voices all clear, and unite in the cheer 
 To welcome our May's bonny Queen.
 
 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 183 
 
 LVIII. A WREATH I BRING OF 
 FLOWERETS RARE. 
 
 Hindoo Melody. 
 
 This air is well known, and possesses much delicacy and 
 simplicity. It stands the strongest test of good music ; — that 
 of pleasing in countries the most remote, both in situation and 
 in taste and habits, from that of its origin. The Author has 
 never heard English words adapted to it. 
 
 1. 
 
 A wreath I bring of flowerets rare, 
 A wreath to bind thy flowing hair, 
 
 My Fair : 
 See roses rathe of lovely hue, 
 See violets dipt in morning dew ; 
 Their hues will fade, their scent will fly, 
 But my fix'd Love shall never die. 
 
 2. 
 And see, — I bring this Turtle Dove, 
 Emblem of constancy, to prove 
 
 My Love : 
 
 J'
 
 134 SCOTTISH MELODIES. 
 
 take her to thy gentle breast, 
 And then restore her to her nest ; 
 Her Avidow'cl Mate sits sorrowing there, 
 As I, when absent from my Fair.
 
 GLOSSAEY. 
 
 It is impossible to express exactly the Scottish pronuncia- 
 tion by our common orthography ; but a few General Rules 
 may be given. 
 
 Tlip most notable distinction between the English and Scot- 
 tish pronunciation is in the sound of the vowel u, and the 
 diphthong oo. The sound of these is generally the same, viz., 
 that of the French u ; as in the words tune, disjune, refuse ; 
 poor, moon, aboon, Boon (the river). The same sound is given 
 to the single o in the words do, done, shoe, &c. But there are 
 also exceptions. Thus the word door is pronounced nearly 
 as in English ; and the same of loon, broom, &c. 
 
 Sometimes the French u is expressed by the diphthong ui, 
 as puir, muir, cuitle, &c, 
 
 The diphthong ou has, in Scottish, generally the sound of 
 the Italian u, or the English diphthong oo, as in the words 
 sour, dour, about, stout, round, house, &c. Hut there are ex- 
 ceptions. The words roup, stoup, coup, &c., are pronounced with 
 the same sound as in English. 
 
 The diphthong ow is, in Scottish, used almost indifferently 
 with ou, and has the same double sound : — Sometimes that of 
 the Italian u, or English oo, as in power, boiuer, tower, eroivn, 
 brown, tow7i, cow, &c. Sometimes the same as the English, as 
 in glowr, noivt, tow, worricow, hoiv (hollow), low (tlame), &c.
 
 136 
 
 CtLOSSARY. 
 
 Scotland has also the sound of the imperfect English m in 
 the words trust, must, &c., as in the words, busk, duds, luck, 
 pund, &c. 
 
 The consonantal sound which chiefly distinguishes the Scot- 
 tish pronunciation from the English is the German guttu- 
 ral, — indifferently spelled by the letters gh or ch, as in the 
 words loch, stech, peck, feckt ; rough, night, light, bright, fright, 
 kc. This is a sound unconquerable by English organs. 
 
 A', all. 
 
 Abee, let abee, let alone. 
 
 Ahoon, above. 
 
 Ae, ane, ance, one, once. 
 
 Aften, often. 
 
 Afterhen\ afterwards. 
 
 Agee, askew, sideways. 
 
 Ahitit, behind. 
 
 Aiblins, perhaps. 
 
 .4 m, own . 
 
 Aits, oats. 
 
 Aiss, ashes. 
 
 Amaist, almost. 
 
 Ashet, dish. Fr. assiette. 
 
 Asteer, astir. 
 
 AtweM, 'twcell, I wot well. 
 
 Aumry. pantry, cupboard. 
 
 Ava^, at all. 
 
 Ayorit, beyond. 
 
 IS 
 Ha', a ball. 
 li'iim, a rliilil. 
 Bnith,hi<th. 
 Band, a bond. 
 Itannork, a thick soft cake. 
 Ilawbi:c,a. lialfprnny. 
 Btik, to clean the house. 
 Bi.qoud, bcRan. 
 Beild, shelter, 
 flcui, snug, sheltered. 
 Bclyvc, by and by. 
 J5i c)[:<r, a small dish oriiig. 
 Bi{!</, l>i<)ijit, build, built. 
 Billy, brnthor. 
 Birk, bircli tree. 
 /JiVArii', a smart fellnw. 
 Bla.ih, a dash of water. 
 RIfite, blushful. 
 Birth fr, foolish talk. 
 
 Blautherie, delusion, humbug. 
 Blceze, blee:in\ blaze, blazing. 
 Blink, a sudden gleam of light, a 
 
 glance of the eye. 
 Bole, winnock bole, space for a 
 
 window. 
 Bounc, bound for .a journey. 
 23o«rac/i, asmall gatheringor knot 
 
 of people. 
 Boyne, a shallow wooden dish for 
 
 holding milk. 
 Brae, a declivity. 
 Braid, broad, breadth. 
 Braiv. tine. 
 Brce. hroo, broth, also the brow. 
 
 Barley brce, whisky. 
 Breeks, breeches. 
 Brent, smooth, upright, un- 
 
 wrinkled. 
 Bught, a pen for cattle or sheep. 
 Bunker, a window seat. 
 liitrn, a rivulet. 
 Busk, to deck, to adorn. 
 Butt an' ben, inner and outer 
 
 rooms. 
 Byre, a cow-house. 
 
 Ca', call. 
 Caird, a tinker. 
 Callant, a young lad. 
 Caller, fresh. 
 C'aniu't'.ceMtlo,prudent, quiet, sly, 
 
 sellish. 
 Canti/, cheerful, merry. 
 Caul'd, ro\i\. 
 
 Cliofipin, iin Knglish quart, 
 Chiel, !i young fellow. 
 Clues, clothes. 
 Cl<iii<j, incumbrance. 
 Claniiicr, to scrape together.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 13; 
 
 Clash, elaivers, loose talk or prate. 
 
 C'leek, to hook in. 
 
 Coff, to buy. 
 
 Cogue, cogic, a wooden dish, a 
 drinking cup. 
 
 Collie, a shepherd's dog. 
 
 Coof, a blockhead, a simpleton. 
 
 Coup, to tumble, to overturn. 
 
 Couper, a horse-dealer. 
 
 Couth, couthie, snug, neat, com- 
 fortable. 
 
 Cozy, warm, snug. 
 
 Crack, talk, conversation, gossip. 
 
 Cragg, throat. 
 
 Crap, a crop. 
 
 Creel, a basket. 
 
 Croon, to hum or sing in a low voice. 
 
 Crouse, brisk, lively. 
 
 Cuitle, to sit or lie close together. 
 
 Cutty, a horn spoon. 
 
 Cybie, a young onion. 
 
 D 
 Dad, daddie, father. 
 Daff, to joke, to sport. 
 T>(fjlin', merriment. 
 JMft, foolish, crazy. 
 Ddgg, dagger, bayonet. 
 Daidle, to dawdle, delay. 
 Darg, a day's work. 
 Vaut, to fondle, to caress. 
 Daw, dawn. 
 Dee, to die. 
 'Deed, indeed. 
 Deuk, a duck, 
 Deid, death. 
 Dight, to wipe. 
 Pine, dinner. 
 Ding, to worst, to push. 
 Dinna, do not. . 
 Dizzen, a dozen. 
 Doit, to dote, to walk stupidly. 
 Donnert, stupified. 
 Doo, dove. 
 Dool, sorrow. 
 
 Dorty, perverse, wayward, capri- 
 cious. 
 Douce, sober, gentle. 
 Douf, dowie, pensive, melancholy. 
 Doiir, hard, stern. 
 Dree, to sutler, to endure. 
 Dreich, slow, fatiguing. 
 Droukit, drenched. 
 Dub, a gutter, a small pool. 
 Duds, mean clothes, rags. 
 
 Ee, ten, eye, eyes. 
 Einin', evening. 
 Kirie, timorous, frightened. 
 Ettle, to try, to endeavour. 
 Even, to compare, to equal. 
 Eydeiit, diligent, busy. 
 
 Fa\ fall. 
 Faem, foam. 
 
 Fairin' OT fairing, a present. 
 Fash, trouble. h'v.Jacher. 
 Fecht, to fight. 
 Feck, quantity, value, effect. 
 Feckless, weak, puny. 
 Fend, to make enough, to serve. 
 Ferlics, wonderful things, gew- 
 gaws. 
 Fidge, to fidget. 
 Fient, fiend, a small oath. 
 Fleech, to entreat by flattery. 
 Fley, to frighten. 
 Flichter, to flutter. 
 Flyte, to scold. Pret. Flate. 
 Forhj/e, besides. 
 
 Forfeucht,forfeuchcn, fatigued. 
 Forgather, to meet with. 
 Forgie, forgive. 
 Fou, tipsy. 
 Fozy, fat, soft. 
 Furthy, forward, affable. 
 
 G 
 
 Qab, the mouth :— To speak heed- 
 lessly, or like a child. 
 
 Oae or gang, to go. 
 
 Gaffaw, loud laughter. 
 
 Oallivant, to gad or dash about. 
 
 Gangrel, a beggar. 
 
 Gar, to force, to make do. 
 
 Gaud, a showy toy. 
 
 Gear, money, goods, substance. 
 
 Geek, to mock, to flout. 
 
 Genty, genteel, neat. 
 
 Gett, a child. 
 
 Ghaist, a ghost. 
 
 Gie, to give. 
 
 Gill, a small spirit measure. 
 
 Gilpie, a girl. 
 
 Girnell, corn-chest. 
 
 Gloamin', evening, twilight. 
 
 Gowd, gold. 
 
 Goiup or gowpen, handful. 
 
 Qraith, horse-harness. 
 
 Gree, the prize. 
 
 (Vnte, a greyliound :— To thrill or 
 shudder. 
 
 H 
 
 JTaffits, the temples. 
 
 Ilafllins, lialf. 
 
 Hdggabag, huckaback. 
 
 Uaik, an anchor. 
 
 Hain, to save or sjjare. 
 
 Hairst, harvest. 
 
 Hank, a skein of thread. 
 
 Hauil, to hold. 
 
 JJaitdiii', a house or possession. 
 
 Haver, havers, to prate— prate, 
 
 nonsense. 
 llan'ky, a name for a cow.
 
 138 
 
 GLOSSARY, 
 
 Heczy, to waver to and fro. 
 Hirple, to totter, to limp. 
 Hoast, a cough, to cough. 
 Hotch, to heave. 
 Bout, houts, tut, an interjection of 
 
 impatience. 
 Howk, to dig. 
 Hunner, hnnnerfauld, hundred, 
 
 hundredfold. 
 
 I 
 Ilk, ilka, every, each. 
 Ingle, chimney, fire. 
 Infill, into. 
 Ither, other, each other. 
 
 J 
 Jalouse, to suspect or conjecture. 
 Jaw, loose talk, a dash of water. 
 Jeezy, a wig. 
 Jimp, neat, slender. 
 Jink, to move quickly, to evade by 
 
 stepping aside. 
 Jo, a sweetheart, male or female. 
 Jouk, to stoop suddenly. 
 Jaw, to toll as a bell. 
 
 Kebbock, a cheese. 
 
 Keek, to peep. 
 
 Ken, to know. 
 
 Kent, a cudgel, to cudgel. 
 
 Kep, to meet, to stop. 
 
 Kite, the boUy, the stomach. 
 
 Kiif. ciiwr;, in rlie ]ilural. 
 
 I, 
 Lmah, low. 
 Lair, mire. 
 Lane, alaiie, alone. 
 Lave, the rest, thi' remainder. 
 Laviin', the reckoning. 
 Lear, lore, learning. 
 Lee, a lie, to lie. 
 Lci'zc me, dear to me. 
 Lift, the sky. 
 Ijlt,a, sung in quick time. 
 Limmcr, a louge wnniaii. 
 Link, to daiico smartly. 
 l.inlij, liiitiirliite, a linnet. 
 I.i/ipi II, trust to. 
 Loor, ratlH'r. 
 Loup, to jump. 
 IaiiiI, to stoop. 
 IjOV'i; flame. 
 Lu;/, tlie ear. 
 Ijinn, a chimney. 
 
 .M 
 
 ^failliii', a f;irm liocme or cottage. 
 
 yf'i'j'j or ^f>lik, a half)>eiiny. 
 
 Mulr, nuiro. 
 
 M'liliiif, a rope or liawser. 
 
 M'lHii, munt. 
 
 Mcar, a mure. 
 
 Meltetli, a meal, meal-time. 
 Midden, middenstead, a dunghill. 
 Mind, to remember. 
 Mint, to try at, to lisp. 
 Mou', mouth. 
 Mutch, a woman's cap. 
 Mutchkin, an Englisli pint mea- 
 sure. 
 
 N 
 
 Napery, linen furniture. 
 
 Neip, a turnip. 
 
 Neuk, a corner. 
 
 Nick-stick, a tally on which the 
 milk, or other household ar- 
 ticle, is scored. 
 
 Niffer, to exchange or barter. 
 
 Xo, not. 
 
 Nowt, cattle. 
 
 Orra, odd. 
 
 Ouf jn', an outgoing, a frolic. 
 
 P 
 
 Parritch, porridge. 
 
 Pawky, sly. cunning. 
 
 Peat, moss, turf. 
 
 Pearlinijs, female ornaments, lace. 
 
 PtfHSi'e, smart, spruco,wcll-dressed. 
 
 Plack, a, small coin. 
 
 Ploy, a social meeting or frolic. 
 
 Poortith, poverty, 
 
 Ponk, to pluck. 
 
 /'oil', poll, head. 
 
 Prec, to taste, to kiss. 
 
 Preen, a pin, 
 
 Propine, a gift, a present. 
 
 (i 
 Quaich, a wooden Tlrinking-cup. 
 
 K 
 Handy, a violent, scolding woman. 
 Ream', to cream, to froth. 
 Ill ist, to smi>ke-dry. 
 Jfimi id, remedy. 
 Jfoone. to Hatter. 
 /{iiitt, to linv as a cow. 
 h'oui, to roll. 
 Iiiii/, to tug, to tear. 
 Jfyliata, the raft(>rs of a lio\i»c. 
 
 tSaip, soap. 
 
 Sark, a shirt. 
 
 •Seart, to siTatch. 
 
 Sciiiiiiir, to loath .at. 
 
 .S'/kui, to .Hew, to pursue. 
 
 Shool, to shovel. 
 
 Shore, to promise. 
 
 •Sic, sitcli. 
 
 Sircar, sure. 
 
 Siller, silver, mmhii'v. 
 
 Slae, the sloe.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 139 
 
 Slappi/, sloppy, wet. 
 Smedflum. wisdom. 
 Sncll, sharp, bitter. 
 Snood, a fillet for the hair. 
 Snoovle, to sneak up. 
 Soom, to swim. 
 Souter, a shoemaker. 
 Spankin', gay, dashing. 
 Spate, a flood in a river. 
 Spe^icc, the best apartment. 
 Spiel, to climb. 
 Splore, a small riot. 
 Spree, smart, brisk— a wild adven- 
 ture. 
 Spunk, chimney fire. 
 Stoker, stern, severe, flying dust. 
 Stecli, to stuff. 
 Sta'-wife, stall-wife. 
 Staiu, stole. 
 
 Stirk, a year-old bullock. 
 Strae, straw. 
 
 Swap, to exchange or barter. 
 Swats, ale. 
 
 Sweer, unwilling, stingy. 
 Swither, to doubc or hesitate. 
 Svrih, a breathing, a whisper. 
 Sumpk, a fat, stupid follow. 
 
 T 
 
 Taiijle, to delay, to labour tiredly. 
 
 Tait, a tuft or 'lock of woo], &c. 
 
 Tap, same meaning,— also head- 
 dress. 
 
 Tawse, a leather thong, the usual 
 instrument of correction, at 
 school, in Scotland. 
 
 Thereanent, concerning that mat- 
 ter. 
 
 Thick, intimate, friendly. 
 
 Thole, to bear, to endure. 
 
 Thrawart, cross, perverse. 
 
 Threap, to assert passionately and 
 obstinately, j, 
 
 TWi good plight or condition. 
 
 TUX, to. 
 
 Tine, to lose. 
 
 Tint, lost. 
 
 Tirl, to strip oft', to scrape.— To 
 tirl the pin, to knock at the 
 door. 
 
 Toom, empty. 
 
 Toil', flax, hemp, — rope made 
 
 thereof. 
 Towmond, twelvemonth. 
 Ti-oker, a pedlar. 
 Troiic, the market weigh-house. 
 Tryst, an appointment. 
 ' Tiueell or atweell, I wot well. 
 Tyke, a dog. 
 
 U 
 
 Unco, strange, unrelated, remark- 
 able. 
 
 Voijie, proud, vainglorious. 
 
 W 
 
 Wae, sorrow, sorrowful. 
 
 Waff, blackguard, iingenteel. 
 
 Wale, to choose, choice. 
 
 Wamc, womb, belly. 
 
 Wanworth, a good-for-nothing fel- 
 low, or thing. 
 
 Ware, to lay out, to expend. 
 
 Water-brash, a qualmish gush of 
 saliva into the mouth. 
 
 Wee, little. 
 
 Wear, to drive sheep cautiously 
 into the fold. 
 
 Weill, well. 
 
 Wcet, wetness, wet weather. 
 
 Weird, fate, lot. 
 
 Whamle, to overturn. 
 
 Mlian<], a lump, a leather thong. 
 
 Wimple, to undulate as running 
 water. 
 
 Winnock, a small window. 
 
 Wimome, comely, pretty. 
 
 Wiss, to wish. 
 
 Withershins, helter-skelter, hig- 
 gledy-piggledy. 
 
 Worricow, scarecrow, bugbear. 
 
 Yerk, to hit smartly. 
 Yestreen, yester-even.' 
 Ye'now, even now, at present. 
 Ydl, ale. 
 Yow, ewe. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 NEILt AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
 
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