Rigs o' barley (1821)/Up in the morning early

by John Hamilton (1761-1814)

For other versions of this work, see Up in the morning early (Hamilton).

UP IN THE MORNING EARLY.

Cauld blaws the wind frae north to south,
And drift is driving sairly;
The sheep are couring i' the heugh,
O sirs! it's winter fairly.
Now up in the morning's no for me,
Up in the morning early;
I'd rather gang supperless to my bed,
Than rise in the morning early.

Rude rairs the blast amang the woods,
The branches tirlin barely;
Amang the chimney-taps it thuds,
And frost is nippin sairly.
Now up in the morning's no for me,
Up in the morning early;
To sit a' the night I'd rather agree,
Than rise in the morning early.

The sun peeps o'er the southlan' hill,
Like ony timorous carlie;
Just blinks a wee, then sinks again,
And that we find severely.
Now up in the morning's no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When snaw blaws into the chimley cheek
Wha'd rise in the morning early.

Nae linties lilt on hedge or bush,
Poor things, they suffer sairly;
In cauldrife quarters a' the night,
A'day they feed but sparely.
Now up in the morning's no for me,
Up in the morning early;
No fate can be waur, in winter time,
Than rise in the morning early.

A cosey house and canty wife,
Keeps ay a body cheerly;
And pantry stow'd wi' meal and maut,
It answers unco rarely.
But up in the morning, na, na na,
Up in the morning early;
The gowans maun glent on bank & brae
When I rise in the morning early.