My Boy Tammy (1804-1819)/Tak' your Auld Cloak about ye

Tak' your Auld Cloak about ye.

IN winter when the rain rain'd cauld,
And frost and snaw on ilka hill,
And Boreas with his blasts sae bauld,
Was threat'ning a' our ky to kill;
Then Bell my wife, wha loves na strife,
She said to me right hastily,
Get up, good man, save Cromy's life,
And tak' your auld cloak about ye.

My Cromy is a useful cow,
And she is come of a good kyne;
Aft has she wet the bairn's mou',
And I am laith that she should tyne:
Get up, goodman, it is fou time,
The sun shines in the lift fue hie;
Sloth never made a gracious end,
Go tak' your auld cloak about ye.

My cloak was anes a good grey cloak,
When it was fitting for my wear;
But now 'tis scantly worth a groat,
For I have worn't this mony a year:
Let's spend the gear that we have won,
We little ken the day we'll die;
Then I'll be proud, since I have sworn
To have a new cloak about me.

In days when our King Robert rang,
His hose they cost but half-a-crown;
Yet said they were a groat o'er dear,
And call'd the taylor thief and lown.
He was the king that wore the crown,
And thou a man of laigh degree;
'Tis pride puts a' the country down,
Sae tak' your auld cloak about ye.

Every land has its ain laugh,
Ilk kind of corn it has its hool,
I think the world is a' gane daft,
When ilka wife her man would rule;
Do ye not see Rob, Jock, and Hab,
How they are girded gallantly,
While I sit hurklen in the ase,
I'll have a new cloak about me.

Goodman, I wate 'tis thirty years
Since we did ane anither ken;
And we have had between us twa,
Of lads and bonny lasses ten:
Now they are women grown and men,
I wish and pray well may they be;
And if you'd prove a good husband,
E'en tak your auld cloak about ye.

Bell my wife, she loves na strife,
But she would guide me if she can;
And to maintain an easy life
I aft maun yield though I'm goodman.
Nought's to be won at woman's hand,
Unless ye give her a' the plea;
Then I'll leave aff where I began,
And tak my auld cloak about me.

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