Robert Burns

    "Yes! let the rich deride, the proud disdain,
    The simple pleasures of the lowly train;
    To me more dear, congenial to my heart,
    One native charm, than all the gloss of art."

Goldsmith.


    Upon that night, when fairies light
        On Cassilis Downans[2] dance,
    Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
        On sprightly coursers prance;
    Or for Colean the rout is ta'en,
        Beneath the moon's pale beams;
    There, up the Cove,[3] to stray an' rove
        Amang the rocks an' streams
        To sport that night.

    Amang the bonnie winding banks
        Where Doon rins, wimplin', clear,
    Where Bruce[4] ance rul'd the martial ranks,
        An' shook his Carrick spear,

Tune. - "I am a man unmarried."


I.

    O once I lov'd a bonnie lass,
        Ay, and I love her still;
    And whilst that honour warms my breast,
        I'll love my handsome Nell.

II.

    As bonnie lasses I hae seen,
        And mony full as braw;
    But for a modest gracefu' mien
        The like I never saw.

III.

    A bonnie lass, I will confess,
        Is pleasant to the e'e,
    But without some better qualities
        She's no a lass for me.

IV.

    But Nelly's looks are blithe and sweet,
        And what is best of a',
    Her reputation is complete,
        And fair without a flaw.

V.

    She dresses ay sae clean and neat,
        Both dece...

Tune - "The Highland Balou."



I.

    Hee balou! my sweet wee Donald,
    Picture o' the great Clanronald;
    Brawlie kens our wanton chief
    Wha got my young Highland thief.

II.

    Leeze me on thy bonnie craigie,
    An' thou live, thou'll steal a naigie:
    Travel the country thro' and thro',
    And bring hame a Carlisle cow.

III.

    Thro' the Lawlands, o'er the border,
    Weel, my babie, may thou furder:
    Herry the louns o' the laigh countree,
    Syne to the Highlands hame to me.

Tune - "Jumpin' John."


I.

    Her daddie forbad, her minnie forbad;
        Forbidden she wadna be:
    She wadna trow't, the browst she brew'd
        Wad taste sae bitterlie.
                The lang lad they ca' jumpin' John
                    Beguiled the bonnie lassie,
                The lang lad they ca' Jumpin' John
                    Beguiled the bonnie lassie.

II.

    A cow and a cauf, a yowe and a hauf,
        And thretty gude shillin's and three;
    A vera gude tocher, a cotter-man's dochter,
        The lass wi' the bonnie black e'e.
                The lang lad they ca' Jumpin' John
                    Beguiled the bonnie lassie,
                The lang lad they ca' Jumpin' John
                ...

Tune - "Banks of Cree."


I.

    Here is the glen, and here the bower,
        All underneath the birchen shade;
    The village-bell has told the hour -
        O what can stay my lovely maid?

II.

    'Tis not Maria's whispering call;
        'Tis but the balmy-breathing gale,
    Mix'd with some warbler's dying fall,
        The dewy star of eve to hail.

III.

    It is Maria's voice I hear!
        So calls the woodlark in the grove,
    His little, faithful mate to cheer,
        At once 'tis music - and 'tis love.

IV.

    And art thou come? and art thou true?
        O welcome, dear to love and me!
    And let us all our vows renew
        Along the flow'ry banks of Cree.

    Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
        What wad you wish for mair, man?
    Wha kens before his life may end,
        What his share may be o' care, man?
    Then catch the moments as they fly,
        And use them as ye ought, man?
    Believe me, happiness is shy,
        And comes not ay when sought, man.

Tune - "Here's a health to them that's awa."


I.

    Here's a health to them that's awa,
    Here's a health to them that's awa;
    And wha winna wish guid luck to our cause,
    May never guid luck be their fa'!
    It's guid to be merry and wise,
    It's guid to be honest and true,
    It's good to support Caldonia's cause,
    And bide by the buff and the blue.

II.

    Here's a health to them that's awa,
    Here's a health to them that's awa,
    Here's a health to Charlie the chief of the clan,
    Altho' that his band be sma'.
    May liberty meet wi' success!
    May prudence protect her frae evil!
    May tyrants and tyranny tine in the mist,
    And wander their way to the devil!

III.

Tune - "The job of journey-work."




    Altho' my back be at the wa',
        An' tho' he be the fautor;
    Altho' my back be at the wa',
        Yet here's his health in water!
    O! wae gae by his wanton sides,
        Sae brawlie he could flatter;
    Till for his sake I'm slighted sair,
        And dree the kintra clatter.
    But tho' my back be at the wa',
        And tho' he be the fautor;
    But tho' my back be at the wa',
        Yet here's his health in water!

Tune - "Laggan Burn."


I.

    Here's to thy health, my bonnie lass,
        Gude night, and joy be wi' thee;
    I'll come na mair to thy bower-door,
        To tell thee that I lo'e thee.
    O dinna think, my pretty pink,
        But I can live without thee:
    I vow and swear I dinna care
        How lang ye look about ye.

II.

    Thou'rt ay sae free informing me
        Thou hast na mind to marry;
    I'll be as free informing thee
        Nae time hae I to tarry.
    I ken thy friends try ilka means,
        Frae wedlock to delay thee;
    Depending on some higher chance -
        But fortune may betray thee.

III.

    I ken they scorn my low estate,
        But that does never griev...

    Her flowing locks, the raven's wing,
    Adown her neck and bosom hing;
    How sweet unto that breast to cling,
        And round that neck entwine her!
    Her lips are roses wat wi' dew,
    O, what a feast her bonnie mou'!
    Her cheeks a mair celestial hue,
        A crimson still diviner.

Tune - "Balinamona Ora."



I.

    Awa wi' your witchcraft o' beauty's alarms,
    The slender bit beauty you grasp in your arms:
    O, gie me the lass that has acres o' charms,
    O, gie me the lass wi' the weel-stockit farms.
        Then hey for a lass wi' a tocher,
        Then hey for a lass wi' a tocher;
        Then hey for a lass wi' a tocher,
            The nice yellow guineas for me.

II.

    Your beauty's a flower, in the morning that blows,
    And withers the faster, the faster it grows;
    But the rapturous charm o' the bonnie green knowes,
    Ilk spring they're new deckit wi' bonnie white yowes.

III.

    And e'en when this beauty your bosom has blest,
    The brightest o' beauty may cl...

Tune - "The Dusty Miller."


I.

    Hey, the dusty miller,
        And his dusty coat;
    He will win a shilling,
        Or he spend a groat.
                Dusty was the coat,
                    Dusty was the colour,
                Dusty was the kiss
                    That I got frae the miller.

II.

    Hey, the dusty miller,
        And his dusty sack;
    Leeze me on the calling
        Fills the dusty peck.
                Fills the dusty peck,
                    Brings the dusty siller;
                I wad gie my coatie
                    For the dusty miller.

Tune - "Katherine Ogie."


I.

    Ye banks, and braes, and streams around
        The castle o' Montgomery,
    Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
        Your waters never drumlie!
    There Simmer first unfauld her robes,
        And there the langest tarry;
    For there I took the last farewell
        O' my sweet Highland Mary.

II.

    How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk,
        How rich the hawthorn's blossom,
    As underneath their fragrant shade
        I clasp'd her to my bosom!
    The golden hours, on angel wings,
        Flew o'er me and my dearie;
    For dear to me, as light and life,
        Was my sweet Highland Mary!

III.

    Wi' mony a vow, and lock'd embrace,

"And send the godly in a pet to pray."

Pope.


    O thou, wha in the heavens dost dwell,
    Wha, as it pleases best thysel',
    Sends ane to heaven, and ten to hell,
        A' for thy glory,
    And no for ony gude or ill
        They've done afore thee!

    I bless and praise thy matchless might,
    Whan thousands thou hast left in night,
    That I am here afore thy sight,
        For gifts and grace,
    A burnin' and a shinin' light
        To a' this place.

    What was I, or my generation,
    That I should get sic exaltation,
    I wha deserve sic just damnation,
        For broken laws,
    Five thousand years 'fore my creation,
        Thro' Adam's cause.

    When frae my mither's womb I fell,...

Tune - "The bonnie lad that's far awa."


I.

    O how can I be blythe and glad,
        Or how can I gang brisk and braw,
    When the bonnie lad that I lo'e best
        Is o'er the hills and far awa?
    When the bonnie lad that I lo'e best
        Is o'er the hills and far awa.

II.

    It's no the frosty winter wind,
        It's no the driving drift and snaw;
    But ay the tear comes in my e'e,
        To think on him that's far awa.
    But ay the tear comes in my e'e,
        To think on him that's far awa.

III.

    My father pat me frae his door,
        My friends they line disown'd me a',
    But I hae ane will tak' my part,
        The bonnie lad that's far awa.
    But I hae ane wi...

Tune - "John Anderson, my jo."


I.

    How cruel are the parents
        Who riches only prize,
    And, to the wealthy booby,
        Poor woman sacrifice!
    Meanwhile the hapless daughter
        Has but a choice of strife;
    To shun a tyrant father's hate,
        Become a wretched wife.

II.

    The ravening hawk pursuing,
        The trembling dove thus flies,
    To shun impelling ruin
        Awhile her pinions tries:
    Till of escape despairing,
        No shelter or retreat,
    She trusts the ruthless falconer,
        And drops beneath his feet!

Tune - "Cauld Kail in Aberdeen."


I.

    How lang and dreary is the night,
        When I am frae my dearie;
    I restless lie frae e'en to morn,
        Though I were ne'er sae weary.
            For oh! her lanely nights are lang;
                And oh! her dreams are eerie;
            And oh, her widow'd heart is sair,
                That's absent frae her dearie.

II.

    When I think on the lightsome days
        I spent wi' thee my dearie;
    And now what seas between us roar -
        How can I be but eerie?

III.

    How slow ye move, ye heavy hours;
        The joyless day how dreary!
    It was na sae ye glinted by,
        When I was wi' my dearie.
            For oh! her lanely ...

To a Gaelic air.


I.

    How long and dreary is the night
        When I am frae my dearie!
    I sleepless lie frae e'en to morn,
        Tho' I were ne'er sae weary.
    I sleepless lie frae e'en to morn,
        Tho' I were ne'er sae weary.

II.

    When I think on the happy days
        I spent wi' you, my dearie,
    And now what lands between us lie,
        How can I but be eerie!
    And now what lands between us lie,
        How can I be but eerie!

III.

    How slow ye move, ye heavy hours,
        As ye were wae and weary!
    It was na sae ye glinted by,
        When I was wi' my dearie.
    It was na sae ye glinted by,
        When I was wi' my dearie.