The Book of Scottish Song/I'll tend thy bower

I'll tend thy bower.

[William Fergusson.]

I'll tend thy bower, my bonnie May,
In spring-time o' the year,
When saft'ning winds begin to woo
The primrose to appear—
When daffodils begin to dance,
And streams again flow free,
And little birds are heard to pipe
On the sprouting forest tree.

I'll tend thy bower, my bonnie May,
When summer days are lang—
When nature's heart is big wi' joy,
Her voice laden wi' sang—
When shepherds pipe on sunny braes,
And flocks roam at their will,
And auld an' young in cot an' ha',
O' pleasure drink their fill.

I'll tend thy bower, my bonnie May,
When autumn's yellow fields—
That wave like seas o' gowd—before
The glancin' sickle yields;
When ilka bough is bent wi' fruit—
A glorious sight to see!—
And showers o' leaves, red, rustling, sweep
Out owre the withering lea.

I'll tend thy bower, my bonnie May,
When through the naked trees,
Cauld, shivering on the bare hill side,
Sweeps wild the frosty breeze;
When tempests roar, and billows rise,
Till nature quakes wi' fear—
And on the land and on the sea,
Wild winter rules the year.

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