Jump to content

Page:Scottish minstrel (2).pdf/16

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

82

WAE'S ME FOR PRINCE CHARLIE !

Words by GLEN. Air_" Johnnie Faa." Keynote 4.


A WEE bird cam to our ha' door,
He warbled sweet and clearly;
And aye the o'ercome o' his sang
Was, “Wae's me for Prince Charlie!"
Oh! when I heard the bonnie, bonnie bird,
The tears came drappin' rarely;
I took the bonnet aff my head,
For weel I lo'ed Prince Charlie.


Quo' I, "My bird, my bonnie, bonnie bird,
Is that a tale ye borrow,
Or is't some words ye've learnt by rote,
Or a lilt o' dool and sorrow?"
"Oh! no, no, no," the wee bird sang,
" I've flown sin' mornin' early;
But sic a day o' win' an' rain-
Oh! wae's me for Prince Charlie!


“On hills that are by right his ain,
He roams a lonely stranger :
On every side he's press'd by want
On every side by danger.
Yestreen I met him in a glen,
My heart maist burstit fairly:
For sadly changed indeed was he,
Oh! wae's me for Prince Charlie!


" Dark night came on, the tempest howled
Out o'er the hills and valleys;
And whare was't that your prince lay down,
Whase hame should been a palace?
He rowed him in his Highland plaid,
Which covered him but sparely,
An' slept beneath a bush o' broom-
Oh! wae's me for Prince Charlie!"


But now the bird saw some red coats,
And he shook his wings wi' anger;
"Oh! this is no a land for me,
I'll tarry here nae langer,
He hovered on the wing a while,
Ere he departed fairly ;
But weel I mind the farewell strain,
Was, "Wae's me for Prince Charlie !"