The Book of Scottish Song/My jo Janet

My jo Janet.

[This appears in Ramsay's Tea Table Miscellany, but is probably of older date. The tune of "My jo Janet" is in some old authorities called "The Keeking Glass."]

Sweet sir, for your courtesie,
When ye come by the Bass, then,
For the love ye bear to me,
Buy me a keekin' glass, then.
Keek into the draw-well,
Janet, Janet;
There ye'll see your bonnie sell,
My jo Janet.

Keekin' in the draw-well clear,
What if I fa' in, sir?
Then a' my kin' will say and swear
I droun'd myself for sin, sir.
Hand the better by the brae,
Janet, Janet;
Haud the better by the brae,
My jo Janet.

Gude sir, for your courtesie,
Comin' through Aberdeen, then,
For the love ye bear to me,
Buy me a pair o' sheen, then.

Clout the auld—the new are dear,
Janet, Janet;
Ae pair may gain ye hauf a year,
My jo Janet.

But, what if, dancin' on the green,
And skippin' like a maukin,
They should see my clouted sheen,
Of me they will be taukin'.
Dance aye laigh, and late at e'en,
Janet, Janet;
Syne a' their fauts will no be seen,
My jo Janet.

Kind sir, for your courtesie,
When ye gae to the cross, then,
For the love ye bear to me,
Buy me a pacin' horse, then,
Pace upon your spinnin' wheel,
Janet, Janet;
Pace upon your spinnin' wheel,
My jo Janet.

My spinnin' wheel is auld and stiff,
The rock o't winna stand, sir;
To keep the temper-pin in tiff
Employs richt aft my hand, sir.
Mak' the best o't that ye can,
Janet, Janet;
But like it never wale a man,
My jo Janet.

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