The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill With biography, illustrations, and music |
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YE ECHOES THAT RING. |
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 | The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill |  |
YE ECHOES THAT RING.
Ye echoes that ring round the woods of Bowgreen,
Say, did ye e'er listen sae melting a strain,
When lovely young Jessie gaed wand'ring unseen,
And sung of her laddie, the pride of the plain?
Aye she sang, “Willie, my bonnie young Willie!
There 's no a sweet flower on the mountain or valley,
Mild blue-spreckled crawflower, nor wild woodland lily,
But tines a' its sweets in my bonnie young swain.
Thou goddess of love, keep him constant to me,
Else, with'ring in sorrow, poor Jessie shall dee!”
Say, did ye e'er listen sae melting a strain,
When lovely young Jessie gaed wand'ring unseen,
And sung of her laddie, the pride of the plain?
Aye she sang, “Willie, my bonnie young Willie!
There 's no a sweet flower on the mountain or valley,
Mild blue-spreckled crawflower, nor wild woodland lily,
But tines a' its sweets in my bonnie young swain.
Thou goddess of love, keep him constant to me,
Else, with'ring in sorrow, poor Jessie shall dee!”
Her laddie had strayed through the dark leafy wood,
His thoughts were a' fixed on his dear lassie's charms,
He heard her sweet voice, all transported he stood,
'Twas the soul of his wishes—he flew to her arms.
“No, my dear Jessie! my lovely young Jessie!
Through simmer, through winter, I 'll daut and caress thee;
Thou 'rt dearer than life! thou 'rt my ae only lassie!
Then, banish thy bosom these needless alarms:
Yon red seeting sun sooner changeful shall be,
Ere, wav'ring in falsehood, I wander frae thee.”
His thoughts were a' fixed on his dear lassie's charms,
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'Twas the soul of his wishes—he flew to her arms.
“No, my dear Jessie! my lovely young Jessie!
Through simmer, through winter, I 'll daut and caress thee;
Thou 'rt dearer than life! thou 'rt my ae only lassie!
Then, banish thy bosom these needless alarms:
Yon red seeting sun sooner changeful shall be,
Ere, wav'ring in falsehood, I wander frae thee.”
| The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill | |