GLASGOW PEGGIE—G
[_]
Macmath MS., p. 93. Taken down at Crossmichael,
Kirkcudbrightshire, 24th August, 1892, from the recitation
of Miss Jane Webster, who had learned it more than fifty
years before, at Airds of Kells, from the singing of Rosanna
McGinnies.
1
It was on a day, and a fine summer's day,
When the Lowlands they were making ready,
There I espied a weel-far'd lass,
She was gaun to Glasgow, and they ca her Peggy.
2
It's up then spak a silly auld man,
And O but he spak wondrous poorly!
Sayin, Ye may steal awa my cows and my ewes,
But ye'll never steal awa my bonny Peggy.
3
‘O haud yer tongue, ye silly auld man,
For ye hae said eneugh already,
For I'll never steal awa yer cows and yer ewes,
But I'll steal awa yer bonny Peggy.’
4
So he mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himsel upon a wee grey naigie,
And they hae ridden ower hill and dale,
And over moors and mosses many.
5
They rade till they cam to the head o yon glen,
It might hae frightened anybody;
He said, Whether will ye go alongst with me,
Or will ye return back again to your mammie?
[OMITTED]
6
Their bed was o the green, green grass,
And their blankets o the bracken sae bonnie,
And he's laid his trews beneath their head,
And Peggy's lain doun wi her Heilan laddie.
7
They lay till it cam to the break o day,
Then up they rose and made them ready;
He said, Whether will ye go alongst with me,
Or will ye return back again to your mammie?
8
‘I'll follow you through frost and snow,
I'll follow you through dangers many,
And wherever ye go I will go alongst with you,
For I'll never return back again to my mammie.’
9
‘I hae four-and-twenty gude milk-kye,
They're a' bun in yon byre sae bonny,
And I am the earl o the Isle o Skye,
And why should not Peggy be called a lady?
10
‘I hae fifty acres o gude land,
A' ploughed ower and sawn sae bonny,
And I am young Donald o the Isle o Skye,
And wherever I'm laird I'll make ye lady.’
