Burns' Farewell/The Ayrshire Laddie
The Ayrshire Laddie.
MY Jamie is a bonny lad,
he often comes a courting, O,
The sight of him aye makes me glad,
but, Oh! when we were sporting, O.
My louping breast to his he press’d,
he row'd me in his plaidy, O,
He held me there till I confess’d
I dearly lov’d the laddie, O.
He says, I kill’d him with my een,
his tale is ever ready, O;
He swears by all the stars of heav’n
that Nell shall be his lady, O.
Every lass is thrang engag’d
with some weel-faur’d callan, O,
My neighbour Jess, and Jane, are pledg’d
to marry Rab and Allan, O.
The English girls are fond of John,
the Irish maid for Paddy, O,
Jamie, give me, or give me none,
my bonny Ayrshire laddie, O.
Once I cross’d the raging sea
From Leith o’er to Kirkaldy, O,
But ne’er a lad yet catch’d my ee,
like my dear Ayrshire laddie, O.
At gloamin’ he went down yestreen,
to ask my mam and daddy, O,
And their consent was freely gi'en,
they knew my lad was steady, O.
There be many a richer pair,
and many mae more gaudy, O,
Of love there few has such a share
as Nell, and her Ayrshire laddie, O.