The Book of Scottish Song/My Wife she dang me

My Wife she dang me.

[The air called "O aye my wife she dang me" is old, and there are old words to it, but of a very coarse character. Burns manufactured the following verses from the old song, retaining spirit and subduing its coarseness.]

O, ay my wife she dang me,
And aft my wife she banged me!
If ye gi'e a woman a' her will,
Gude faith, she'll soon owergang ye.

On peace and rest my mind was bent,
And, fool I was, I married;
But never honest man's intent
As cursedly miscarried!
O, ay my wife, &c.

Some sair o' comfort still at last,
When a' thir days are dune, man—
My pains o' hell on earth are past,
I'm sure o' heaven aboon, man.
O, ay my wife, &c.

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