The Book of Scottish Song/A' body's like to be married

A' body's like to be married.

[We find the original of this in the Scots Magazine for July, 1802, where it is signed "Duncan Gray." There are some verbal differences between the old copy and the present.]

As Jenny sat down wi' her wheel by the fire,
An' thought o' the time that was fast fleein' by'er,
She said to hersel' wi' a heavy hoch hie,
Oh! a' body's like to be married but me.

My youthfu' companions are a' worn awa',
And though I've had wooers mysel' ane or twa;
Yet a lad to my mind I ne'er could yet see,
Oh! a' body's like to be married but me.

There's Lowrie, the lawyer, would ha'e me fu' fain
Who has baith a house an' a yard o' his ain:
But before I'd gang to it I rather wad die,
A wee stumpin' body! he'll never get me.

There's Dickey, my cousin, frae Lunnun cam' down,
Wi' fine yellow buskins that dazzled the town;
But, puir deevil, he got ne'er a blink o' my e'e,
Oh! a' body's like to be married but me.

But I saw a lad by yon saughie burn side,
Wha weel wad deserve ony queen for his bride,
Gin I had my will soon his ain I would be,
Oh! a' body's like to be married but me.

I gied him a look, as a kind lassie should,
My frien's, if they kenn'd it, would surely run wud;
For tho' bonnieand guid, he's no worth a bawbee,
Oh! a' body's like to be married but me.

'Tis hard to tak' shelter behint a laigh dyke,
'Tis hard for to tak' ane we never can like,
'Tis hard for to leave ane we fain wad be wi'
Yet it is harder that a' should be married but me.

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