The Complete Works of Robert Burns
Chapter 121 : CXII.O SAW YE MY DEARIE.Tune--"_Eppie Macnab._"["Published in the Museu

CXII.

O SAW YE MY DEARIE.

Tune--"_Eppie Macnab._"

["Published in the Museum," says Sir Harris Nicolas, "without any name." Burns corrected some lines in the old song, which had more wit, he said, than decency, and added others, and sent his amended version to Johnson.]

I.

O saw ye my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

O saw ye my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

She's down in the yard, she's kissin' the laird, She winna come hame to her ain Jock Rab.

O come thy ways to me, my Eppie M'Nab!

O come thy ways to me, my Eppie M'Nab!

Whate'er thou hast done, be it late, be it soon, Thou's welcome again to thy ain Jock Rab.

II.

What says she, my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

What says she, my dearie, my Eppie M'Nab?

She lets thee to wit, that she has thee forgot, And for ever disowns thee, her ain Jock Rab.

O had I ne'er seen thee, my Eppie M'Nab!

O had I ne'er seen thee, my Eppie M'Nab!

As light as the air, and fause as thou's fair, Thou's broken the heart o' thy ain Jock Rab.

CXIII.

WHA IS THAT AT MY BOWER-DOOR.

Tune--"_La.s.s an I come near thee._"

[The "Auld man and the Widow," in Ramsay's collection is said, by Gilbert Burns, to have suggested this song to his brother: it first appeared in the Museum.]

I.

Wha is that at my bower door?

O, wha is it but Findlay?

Then gae your gate, ye'se nae be here!-- Indeed, maun I, quo' Findlay.

What mak ye sae like a thief?

O come and see, quo' Findlay; Before the morn ye'll work mischief; Indeed will I, quo' Findlay.

II.

Gif I rise and let you in?

Let me in, quo' Findlay; Ye'll keep me waukin wi' your din; Indeed will I, quo' Findlay.

In my bower if you should stay?

Let me stay, quo' Findlay; I fear ye'll bide till break o' day; Indeed will I, quo' Findlay.

III.

Here this night if ye remain;-- I'll remain, quo' Findlay; I dread ye'll learn the gate again; Indeed will I, quo' Findlay.

What may pa.s.s within this bower,-- Let it pa.s.s, quo' Findlay; Ye maun conceal till your last hour; Indeed will I, quo' Findlay!

CXIV.

WHAT CAN A YOUNG La.s.sIE.

Tune--"_What can a young la.s.sie do wi' an auld man._"

[In the old strain, which partly suggested this song, the heroine threatens only to adorn her husband's brows: Burns proposes a system of domestic annoyance to break his heart.]

I.

What can a young la.s.sie, what shall a young la.s.sie, What can a young la.s.sie do wi' an auld man?

Bad luck on the pennie that tempted my minnie To sell her poor Jenny for siller an' lan'!

Bad luck on the pennie that tempted my minnie To sell her poor Jenny for siller an' lan'!

II.

He's always compleenin' frae mornin' to e'enin', He hosts and he hirples the weary day lang; He's doyl't and he's dozin', his bluid it is frozen, O, dreary's the night wi' a crazy auld man!

He's doyl't and he's dozin', his bluid it is frozen, O, dreary's the night wi' a crazy auld man!

III.

He hums and he hankers, he frets and he cankers, I never can please him, do a' that I can; He's peevish and jealous of a' the young fellows: O, dool on the day I met wi' an auld man!

He's peevish and jealous of a' the young fellows: O, dool on the day I met wi' an auld man!

IV.

My auld auntie Katie upon me takes pity, I'll do my endeavour to follow her plan; I'll cross him, and wrack him, until I heart-break him, And then his auld bra.s.s will buy me a new pan.

I'll cross him, and wrack him, until I heart-break him, And then his auld bra.s.s will buy me a new pan.