The Complete Works of Robert Burns
Chapter 124 : They'll hae me wed a wealthy coof, Tho' I mysel' hae plenty, Tam; But h

They'll hae me wed a wealthy coof, Tho' I mysel' hae plenty, Tam; But hear'st thou, laddie--there's my loof-- I'm thine at ane-and-twenty, Tam.

An O, for ane-and-twenty, Tam!

An hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tam!

I'll learn my kin a rattlin' song, An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.

CXXII.

O KENMURE'S ON AND AWA.

Tune--"_O Kenmure's on and awa, Willie._"

[The second and third, and concluding verses of this Jacobite strain, were written by Burns: the whole was sent in his own handwriting to the Museum.]

I.

O Kenmure's on and awa, Willie!

O Kenmure's on and awa!

And Kenmure's lord's the bravest lord, That ever Galloway saw.

II.

Success to Kenmure's band, Willie!

Success to Kenmure's band; There's no a heart that fears a Whig, That rides by Kenmure's hand.

III.

Here's Kenmure's health in wine, Willie!

Here's Kenmure's health in wine; There ne'er was a coward o' Kenmure's blude, Nor yet o' Gordon's line.

IV.

O Kenmure's lads are men, Willie!

O Kenmure's lads are men; Their hearts and swords are metal true-- And that their faes shall ken.

V.

They'll live or die wi' fame, Willie!

They'll live or die wi' fame; But soon wi' sounding victorie, May Kenmure's lord come hame.

VI.

Here's him that's far awa, Willie, Here's him that's far awa; And here's the flower that I love best-- The rose that's like the snaw!

CXXIII.

MY COLLIER LADDIE.

Tune--"_The Collier Laddie._"

[The Collier Laddie was communicated by Burns, and in his handwriting, to the Museum: it is chiefly his own composition, though coloured by an older strain.]

I.

Where live ye, my bonnie la.s.s?

An' tell me what they ca' ye; My name, she says, is Mistress Jean, And I follow the Collier Laddie.

My name she says, is Mistress Jean, And I follow the Collier Laddie.

II.

See you not yon hills and dales, The sun s.h.i.+nes on sae brawlie!

They a' are mine, and they shall be thine, Gin ye'll leave your Collier Laddie.

They a' are mine, and they shall be thine, Gin ye'll leave your Collier Laddie.

III.

Ye shall gang in gay attire, Weel buskit up sae gaudy; And ane to wait on every hand, Gin ye'll leave your Collier Laddie.

And ane to wait on every hand, Gin ye'll leave your Collier Laddie.

IV.

Tho' ye had a' the sun s.h.i.+nes on, And the earth conceals sae lowly; I wad turn my back on you and it a', And embrace my Collier Laddie.

I wad turn my back on you and it a', And embrace my Collier Laddie.

V.

I can win my five pennies a day, And spen't at night fu' brawlie; And make my bed in the Collier's neuk, And lie down wi' my Collier Laddie.

And make my bed in the Collier's neuk, And lie down wi' my Collier Laddie.

VI.

Luve for luve is the bargain for me, Tho' the wee cot-house should haud me; And the world before me to win my bread, And fair fa' my Collier Laddie.

And the world before me to win my bread, And fair fa' my Collier Laddie.