Willie Winkie and Other Songs and Poems By William Miller: Edited, with an Introduction by Robert Ford |
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 | Willie Winkie and Other Songs and Poems |  |
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INTRODUCTION.
SONG,
Sung on the night of the 13th April, 1872, in No. 4 Ark Lane, in the imagined presence of James Ballantine, Edinburgh.
Frien'ship promised months afore,
That some night 'twad hae a splore,
Wi' a sangster to the core,
Y'clept in Edin., Jamie.
Kings hae drank in Embro' toon,
Bottle lords hae slidden doon,
Poets wi' the laurel croon
Hae boozed in Edin., Jamie.
That some night 'twad hae a splore,
Wi' a sangster to the core,
Y'clept in Edin., Jamie.
Kings hae drank in Embro' toon,
Bottle lords hae slidden doon,
Poets wi' the laurel croon
Hae boozed in Edin., Jamie.
Wha wad sit out owre a mug,
Toom as is a collie's lug;
Lassie, fill a reamin' jug,
Till I drink health to Jamie.
Glass to glass, an' knee to knee,
Heart to heart, an' e'e to e'e;
There's my han', to thine and thee,
Dear Scotia's minstrel, Jamie.
Toom as is a collie's lug;
Lassie, fill a reamin' jug,
Till I drink health to Jamie.
Glass to glass, an' knee to knee,
Heart to heart, an' e'e to e'e;
There's my han', to thine and thee,
Dear Scotia's minstrel, Jamie.
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I maun hae my say, an' I
Will be neither dowf nor dry;
Up my bonnet cock-laft high,
While sittin' wi' you, Jamie.
Seldom meet sic twa as we,
Aged though a thocht we be;
Let the youngsters sing an' lea'
Sic sangs as we'll leave, Jamie.
Will be neither dowf nor dry;
Up my bonnet cock-laft high,
While sittin' wi' you, Jamie.
Seldom meet sic twa as we,
Aged though a thocht we be;
Let the youngsters sing an' lea'
Sic sangs as we'll leave, Jamie.
Weel I mind, in bygane days,
How my heart leaped at thy praise;
Ithers sneer'd “Cock Robin lays,”
Ye roused them, manly Jamie.
Tids o' sang, how sweet ye be!
Chasin' Care wi' canty glee;
While I sing o' thine and thee,
Dear, kindly-hearted Jamie.
How my heart leaped at thy praise;
Ithers sneer'd “Cock Robin lays,”
Ye roused them, manly Jamie.
Tids o' sang, how sweet ye be!
Chasin' Care wi' canty glee;
While I sing o' thine and thee,
Dear, kindly-hearted Jamie.
TO WILLIE MILLER.
My ain sib sangster, Willie Winkie,
The creonin' gem o' “Whistle-Binkie,”
Whilk to our leal Scotch bosoms link ye,
And mak' ye dear,
To a' wha feel your hamely clinky
Grip heart an' ear.
The creonin' gem o' “Whistle-Binkie,”
Whilk to our leal Scotch bosoms link ye,
And mak' ye dear,
To a' wha feel your hamely clinky
Grip heart an' ear.
I've been awa frae hame till now,
Or wadna I gien you a rowe
For raisin' sic a wurriecowe
In Auld Ark Lane,
And me no there, your cakes to chowe,
Your mugs to drain.
Or wadna I gien you a rowe
For raisin' sic a wurriecowe
In Auld Ark Lane,
And me no there, your cakes to chowe,
Your mugs to drain.
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Had I but kenned ye wanted me
To join ye in your social spree,
Losh, man, owre a' the kingdoms three
I wad hae loupit,
To come and pledge to “thine and thee,”
Till owre I coupit.
To join ye in your social spree,
Losh, man, owre a' the kingdoms three
I wad hae loupit,
To come and pledge to “thine and thee,”
Till owre I coupit.
Sae mind, neist time, mak' nae sic muddle,
But summon me to share your fuddle,
And Scotland wi' me in may toddle
Your maut to pree,
And tell how wives and weanies cuddle
Baith you and me.
But summon me to share your fuddle,
And Scotland wi' me in may toddle
Your maut to pree,
And tell how wives and weanies cuddle
Baith you and me.
James Ballantine. Edinburgh, 6th May, 1872.
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