The Book of Scottish Song/Jamie Gay

Jamie Gay.

[This is a Cockney imitation of Scottish song, and was popular in London about the middle of the last century. It is given in Johnson's Museum, Vol. I. Burns says of it that "it is a tolerable Anglo-Scottish production." The composer of the music was Mr. Berg: the author of the words is unknown.]

As Jamie Gay gang'd blythe his way,
Along the banks of Tweed;
A bonny lass, as ever was,
Came tripping o'er the mead:
The hearty swain, untaught to feign,
The buxom nymph survey'd:
And full of glee, as lad could be,
Bespake the pretty maid.

Dear lassy, tell, why by thinesell
Thou hast'ly wand'rest here?
My ewes, she cry'd, are straying wide;
Can'st tell me, laddy, where?
To town I'll hie, he made reply,
Some meikle sport to see;
But thou'rt so sweet, so trim and neat,
I'll seek the ewes with thee.

She gae'm her hand, nor made a stand,
But lik'd the youth's intent;
O'er hill and dale, o'er plain and vale,
Right merrily they went;
The birds sang sweet the pair to greet,
And flowers bloom'd around;
And as they walk'd, of love they talk'd,
And joys which lovers crown'd.

And now the sun had rose to noon,
(The zenith of his pow'r,)
When to a shade their steps they made,
To pass the mid-day hour:
The bonny lad row'd in his plaid,
The lass who scorn'd to frown;
She soon forgot the ewes she sought.
And he to gang to town.

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