Four Popular Songs (2)/The Toom Meal Pock
The Toom Meal Pock.
Preserve us a what shall we do thir dark noballow d times?We're surely dreeing penance now, for sone most awfu' crimesSedition daurna now appear, in reality or joke.But i ka chiel maun mourn wi' me, o' a hinging toom meal pock.And sing Oh waes me.
When lasses braw gade out at e'en for sport and pasttime free,I seemed like ane in paradise. the moments quick did flee;Like Venuses they a' appeared, weel pouthered was their locks,'Twas easy dune when at their hame,wi' the shaking o' their pocks.And sing Oh waes me
How happy past my former days, wi merry heartsome g'ee.When smiling fortune held the cup, and peace sat on my kneeNae wants had I but were supplied my heart wi joy did knock,When in the neuk I smiling saw a gaucie weel fill'd pock.And sing, Oh, waes me
Speak no ae word about reform, nor petition Parliament,A wiser scheme I'll now propone, I'm sure you'll gie consent—Send up a chiel or twa like me as a sample o' the flock,Whas hollow cheeks will be sure proof o' a hinging toom meal pock.And sing Oh waes me
And shou'd a sicht sae ghastly like wi rags end banes and skin,Hae nae impression on you folks but tell ye'll stand abinO what a contrast will ye shaw, to the glowerin Lunnun folk,When in St. James' ye tak your stand, wi' a hinging loom meal pock.And sing Oh waes me,
Then rear your hand and glower and stare, before you hills o' beef Tell them ye are frae Scotland come, for Scotia's relief;Tell them ye are the vera best wal'd frae the fattest flock,Then raise our arms and oh display a hinging toom meal pock.And sing Oh waes me!
Tell them ye're wearied o' the chain that hauds the state thegitherFor Scotland wishes just to tak gude night wi ane anitherWe canna tho'e—we canna bide, this hard unwieldy yoke,For wark and want but ill agree, wi a hinging toom meal pock.And sing Oh waes me!