The Book of Scottish Song/Doun the burn, Davie
Doun the burn, Davie.
[This was contributed by Robert Crawfurd, author of "Tweedside," &c. to the first volume of the Tea-Table Miscellany. It originally consisted of four stanzas, but the last two, being rather highly coloured, were reduced to one, by Burns, for Thomson's collection. Burns says, "I have been informed, that the tune of Doun the burn, Davie, was the composition of David Maigh, keeper of the blood slouth hounds, belonging to the laird of Riddell in Tweeddale." When David Maigh lived is not said; but the tune appears, along with the words, in the Orpheus Caledonius, 1725.]
When trees did bud, and fields were green,
And broom bloom'd fair to see;
When Mary was complete fifteen,
And love laugh'd in her e'e;
Blythe Davie's blinks her heart did move
To speak her mind thus free;
Gang down the burn, Davie, love,
And I will follow thee.
Now Davie did each lad surpass
That dwelt on this burnside;
And Mary was the bonniest lass,
Just meet to be a bride:
Her cheeks were rosie, red and white;
Her een were bonnie blue;
Her looks were like the morning bright,
Her lips like dropping dew.
As down the burn they took their way,
And through the flow'ry dale;
His cheek to hers he aft did lay,
And love was aye the tale.
With, Mary, when shall we return,
Sic pleasure to renew?
Quoth Mary, Love, I like the burn,
And aye will follow you.