Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Our ain Fireside

Our Ain Fireside.

My country, o'er thy mountains wild
Though stormy clouds may ride,
There's mony a noble generous heart
Sits round thy fireside.
Her ain fireside, my friends,
Her ain fireside;
May ne'er a tyrant's ruthless arm
Rule o'er her fireside.

How cheery round the ingle-cheek
To hear cauld winter chide;
While nappy ale an' hearty tale
Gae round the fireside!
Our ain fireside, my friends,
Our ain fireside;
I'm glad to see ye a' set round
A social fireside.

The poisoned shafts that malice throws
O'er harmless pastime slide,
While honest worth an' cheerin' mirth
Sit round the fireside.
Our ain fireside, my friends,
Our ain fireside;
The warmest glow o' friendship's flame
Shall heat the fireside.

On human worth by length of purse
Let worldly slaves decide;
The heart to share the world's care
Aye heats the fireside.
Our ain fireside, my friends,
Our ain fireside;
The sterling value o' the heart
Aye gilds the fireside.

Through rocks and sands to distant lands
The sailor wanders wide,
In hopes to shield his crazy eild
By couthy fireside.
The couthy fireside, my friends,
The couthy fireside;
Heaven send the lyart pow o' age
A couthy fireside.

'Tis Heaven that nerves the soldier's arm
The battle's heat to bide;
He boldly dares the fiercest foe
To shield his fireside.
His ain fireside, my friends,
His country's fireside;
Would ye but warm a coward's heart?—
Insult his fireside.

Gi'e luxury her painted domes,
Her palaces gi'e pride;
But be my lot a snug warm cot
And canty fireside.
A canty fireside, my friends,
A canty fireside;
Be aye my lot a snug warm cot
And canty fireside.

When bairnies brattlin round our knees
On chairs and stoolies ride,
What joy heaves up a parent's heart
To see his fireside.

To see his fireside, my friends,
His ain fireside;
May Heaven protect the rising sprouts
Around his fireside.

Misfortune dour, wi' cauldrife stour,
A neighbour may betide;
We'll edge a bit and let him sit
Just next the fireside.
Our ain fireside, my friends,
Our ain fireside;
May ne'er a cauld nor hungry heart
Gae by your fireside.

And, oh, may He whose powerful arm
The steps o' mortals guides,
Wi' health and wealth and length o' days
Bless a' our firesides!
Our ain firesides, my friends,
Our ain firesides;
The choicest blessings Heaven bestows
Bless a' our firesides.