The Book of Scottish Song/Lovely Polly Stewart

Lovely Polly Stewart.

[Written by Burns for Johnson's Museum to the tune of "You're welcome, Charlie Stewart." This tune was originally called "Miss Stewart's Reel," but about the middle of the last century a Jacobite song was written to it, beginning as above, from which it received its new name. The Jacobite song is scarcely worth giving. Mr. Robert Chambers says, that he was informed that the heroine of this song was so far reduced in her circumstances, as to be obliged in her old age to support herself by washing clothes. In 1838, she resided in the borough of Maxwelton, Dumfries.]

O lovely Polly Stewart!
O charming Polly Stewart!
There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May,
That's half so fair as thou art.
The flower that blaws, it fades, it fa's,
And art can ne'er renew it;
But worth and truth eternal youth
Will gi'e to Polly Stewart."

May he, whase arms shall fauld thy charms,
Possess a leal and true heart;
To him be given to ken the heaven
He grasps in Polly Stewart!
O lovely Polly Stewart!
O charming Polly Stewart!
There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May,
That's half so fair as thou art.

---