University of Virginia Library

Birniebouzle.

[_]

Air—“Braes of Tullimett.”

Will ye gang wi' me, lassie,
To the braes o' Birniebouzle?
Baith the yird an' sea, lassie,
Will I rob to fend ye.
I'll hunt the otter an' the brock,
The hart, the hare, an' heather-cock,
An' pu' the limpet aff the rock,
To fatten an' to mend ye.
If ye'll gang wi' me, lassie,
To the braes of Birniebouzle,
Till the day you dee, lassie,
Want shall ne'er come near ye.
The peats I'll carry in a skull,
The cod an' ling wi' hooks I'll pull,
An' reave the eggs o' mony a gull,
To please my denty dearie.
Sae canty will we be, lassie,
At the braes o' Birniebouzle,
Donald Gun and me, lassie,
Ever sal attend ye.
Though we hae nowther milk nor meal,
Nor lamb nor mutton, beef nor veal,
We'll fank the porpy and the seal,
And that's the way to fend ye.
An' ye sal gang sae braw, lassie,
At the kirk o' Birniebouzle,
Wi' littit brogues an' a', lassie,
Wow but ye'll be vaunty!
An' you sal wear, when you are wed,
The kirtle an' the Hieland plaid,
An' sleep upon a heather bed,
Sae cozie an' sae canty.

278

If ye'll but marry me, lassie,
At the kirk o' Birniebouzle,
A' my joy shall be, lassie,
Ever to content ye.
I'll bait the line and bear the pail,
An' row the boat and spread the sail,
An' drag the larry at my tail,
When mussel hives are plenty.
Then come awa' wi' me, lassie,
To the braes o' Birniebouzle;
Bonnie lassie, dear lassie,
You shall ne'er repent ye.
For you shall own a bught o'ewes,
A brace o' gaits, and byre o' cows,
An' be the lady o' my house,
An' lads an' lasses plenty.