Two Original Songs.
BY TANNAHILL.
[The following songs, by Robert Tannahill, are, so far as is known to us, here printed for the first time. We were favoured with them by the poet's brother, Mr. Matthew Tannahill of Paisley, who says they were composed when their author was about 16 or 17 years of age. The first is to the old air of "Good night and joy be wi' you a'" The second is to the tune of "The Lea Rig."]
I.
The evening sun's gaen down the west,
The birds sit nodding on the tree;
All nature now prepares for rest,
But rest prepared there's none for me.
The trumpet sounds to war's alarms,
The drums they beat, the fifes they play,—
Come, Mary, cheer me wi' thy charms,
For the morn I will be far away.
Good night and joy, good night and joy,
Good night and joy be wi' you a';
For since it's so that I must go,
Good night and joy be wi' you a'!
I grieve to leave my comrades dear,
I mourn to leave my native shore,—
To leave my aged parents here,
And the bonnie lass whom I adore.
But tender thoughts maun now be hush'd,
When danger calls I must obey.—
The transport waits us on the coast,
And the morn I will be far away.
Good night and joy, &c.
Adieu, dear Scotia's sea-beat coast!
Though bleak and drear thy mountains be,
When on the heaving ocean tost,
I'll cast a wishful look to thee!
And now, dear Mary, fare thee well!
May Providence thy guardian be!
Or in the camp, or on the field,
I'll heave a sigh, and think on thee!
Good night and joy, &c.
II.
[In introducing this second song, Mr. Matthew Tannahill says in the communication with which we are favoured: "My brother had a strong wish to see Alloway's auld haunted kirk, and he and two or three of his young acquaintances set out to pay it a visit. After seeing the kirk, they visited some of the surrounding scenery. I remember he was well pleased with the jaunt, and, when he returned, he gave me a copy of two verses of a son which he said he wrote in his bed-room the first time he was in the town of Ayr. I know he did not think much of them himself, and I believe he never wrote another copy. I give you them, however, such as they are."]
When I the dreary mountains pass'd,
My ain kind dearie, O,
I thought on thee, my bonnie lass,
Although I was na near thee, O.
My heart within me was right sad,
When others they were cheerie, O,
They little kent I thought on thee.
My ain kind dearie, O!
But now an I ha'e won till Ayr,
Although I'm gae an' wearie, O,
I'll tak' a glass into my han',
And drink to you, my dearie, O.
Cheer up your heart, my bonnie lass,
And see you dinna wearie, O;
In twice three ooks, gin I be spared,
I'se come again, and see thee, O.
And row thee up, and row thee down.
And row thee till I wearie, O,
And row thee o'er the lea rig,
My ain kind dearie, O!
Blue bonnets over the border.
[This first appeared in the romance of "The Monastery," by Sir Walter Scott, 1820.]
March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,
Why, my lads, dinna ye march forward in order?
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
