University of Virginia Library

previous section The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd
next section

Auld John Nicol.

I'll sing of an auld forbear o' my ain,
Tweeddlum, twaddlum, twenty-one,
A man that for fun was never outdone,
And his name it was Auld John Nicol o' Whun.
Auld John Nicol he lo'ed his glass,
Tweeddlum, twaddlum, twenty-one,
An' weel he likit the toasts to pass,
An' it's hey for brave John Nicol o' Whun!
Auld John Nicol gaed out to fight, &c.
But a' gaed wrang that should hae gane right; &c.
Then auld John Nicol kneel'd down to pray,
But never a word John Nicol could say.
Auld John Nicol he lo'ed a lass,
But I darena tell you what came to pass;
For the beadle came up in an unco haste,
An' summon'd him down to speak wi' the priest.
Then auld John Nicol he changed his hue,
For his face it grew red, an' his face it grew blue;
John Nicol gaed out, John Nicol gaed in,
An' he wish'd he had been in the well to the chin.
“Shame fa' it!” quo' John, “I often hae thought
Wha wins at woman will lose at nought;
But I hae heart to do ill to nane,
Sae I will e'en mak the lassie my ain.”
Then auld John Nicol he got a wife,
And he never got siccan fun in his life;—
Now John Nicol he sings frae morn till e'en,
Tweeddlum, twaddlum, twenty-one,
The happiest man that ever was seen,
An' it's hey for brave John Nicol o' Whun!
previous section The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd
next section