The Book of Scottish Song/Hey, how, my Johnnie lad

Hey, how, my Johnnie lad.

[This song is partly preserved by Herd in his collection, 1776, but is here given with some slight additions by Allan Cunningham. It is sung to a reel tune, originally called "The Lasses o' the Ferry." Tannahill wrote a song with the same burthen, and to the same tune, which is also given in this work.]

Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been,
For gin your voice I had na kent,
I'm sure I couldna trust my een;
Sae weel's ye might ha'e courted me,
And sweetly pree'd my mou' bedeen:
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

My father, he was at the pleugh,
My mither, she was at the mill;
My brother, he was at the moss,
And no ane near our sport to spill:
A lug to listen was na there,
And still less fear o' being seen
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

Wad ony lad who lo'ed me weel
Ha'e left me a' my liefu' lane,
To count the minutes as they crawled,
And think life's sweetest moments gane.
I wonder what was in your head,
I wonder what was in your een,
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

But I shall seek some other lad,
Whose love is upmost in his mind;
As gleg as light, wha has the slight
O' kenning when he should be kind.
Then ye may woo wi' blinkin' Bess—
For you nae mair I'll sigh and green:
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

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