Bonny Barbara Allan (1823)/The lassie I lo'e best of a'

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THE LASSIE I LO'E BEST OF A'.

Hae ye seen, in the calm dewy morning,
The red-breast wild warbling sae clear;
Or the low dwelling, snow-breasted gowan,
Sur-charged wi' mild e'ening's soft tear?

O, then ye hae seen my dear lassie,
The lassie I lo'e best of a'
But far frae the hame o' my lassie,
I'm monie a lang mile awa.

Her hair is the wing o' the blackbird,
Her eye is the eye o' the dove,
Her lips are the blush'ng rose-bud,
Her bosom's the palace of love.
Tho' green be thy banks O sweet Clutba!
Thy beauties ne'er charm me ava;
Forgive me, ye maids o' sweet Clutha!
My heart is wi' her that’s awa.

O love, thou'st a dear fleeting pleasure!
The sweetest we mortals here know;
But soon is thy heav'n, bright beaming,
O'ercast with the darkness of wo.
As the moon, on the oft-changing ocean,
Delights the lone mariner's eye,
Till red rush the storms of the desert,
And dark billows tumble on high.