The Book of Scottish Song/Gin e'er I'm in love

Gin e’er I’m in love.

Gin e'er I'm in love, it shall be with a lass
As sweet as the morn dew that ligs on the grass;
Her cheeks maun be ruddy, her e'en maun be bright,
Like stars in the sky on a cauld frosty night.
Oh! could I but ken sic a lassie as this,
Oh! could I but ken sic a lassie as this,
I'd freely gang to her,
Caress her and woo her,
At once take up heart and solicit a kiss.

My daddy wad ha'e me to marry wi' Bell,
But wha wad ha'e ane that he canna like well?
What tho' she has meikle, she's bleary and auld,
Camstarie, and saucy, and a terrible scauld.
Oh! gin I get sic a vixen as this,
Oh! gin I get sic a vixen as this,
I'd whap her, and strap her,
And bang her, and slap her,
The devil for me shou'd solicit a kiss.

There's Maggy wad fain lug me into the chain,
She speirs frisky at me, but blinks it in vain:
She trows that I'll ha'e her—but, faith, I think no,
For Willy did for her a long while ago.
Oh! gin I get sic a wanton as this,
Oh! gin I get sic a wanton as this,
She'd horn me, and scorn me,
And hugely adorn me,
And, ere she kiss'd me, gi'e another a kiss.

But find me a lassie, that's youthfu' and gay,
As blythe as a starling, as pleasant as May;
Wha's free from a' wrangling, and jangling and strife,
And I'll tak' her, and mak' her my ain thing for life,
Oh! gin I get sic a lassie as this,
Oh! gin I get sic a lassie as this,
I'll kiss her and press her,
Preserve and caress her,
And think myself greater than Jove is in bliss.

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