The Book of Scottish Song/Kirk wad let me be

Kirk wad let me be.

["This ancient ditty," says Mr. Chambers, "is said to have been composed, under very peculiar circumstances, by a non-conforming clergyman of the time of Charles II. While under hiding for religion's sake, he had the misfortune to be seized by a party of the troops which were then employed to scour the south and west of Scotland in search of the broken Covenanters. They were not exactly sure of his person, for he appeared to their eyes more like a beggar than any thing else; but, from some suspicious circumstances, they were disposed, at least, to detain him till they should ascertain his real character. The unhappy man then condescended to an artifice, for the purpose of extricating himself. He forthwith assumed a fantastic levity of manners—fell a-capering and dancing—and, finally, sung the two following stanzas, which he composed on the spur of the moment. Such was the gloss he thus gave to his character, and so much were the soldiers delighted with his song, that, swearing he was an honest fellow, and could not possibly belong to the crew they were in search of, they permitted him to depart. The song appeared in Herd's Collection, 1776."]

I am a puir silly auld man,
And hirplin' ower a tree;
Yet fain, fain kiss wad I,
Gin the kirk wad let me be.

Gin a' my duds were aff,
And guid haill claes put on,
O, I could kiss a young lass
As weel as ony man.

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