The Book of Scottish Song/My only jo and dearie, O
My only jo and dearie, O.
[This song is the production of Richard Gall, a young man who was brought up to the business of a compositor in Edinburgh, but who died in 1801, in the twenty-fifth year of his age. He was born at Linkhouse near Dunbar. After his death, a collection of his poetical pieces was published by Messrs. Oliver & Boyd, with a Memoir by the Rev. Alex. Stewart.]
Thy cheek is o' the rose's hue,
My only jo and dearie, O;
Thy neck is o' the siller dew
Upon the bank sae brierie, O.
Thy teeth are o' the ivory;
O sweet's the twinkle o' thine ee:
Nae joy, nae pleasure, blinks on me,
My only jo and dearie, O.
The birdie sings upon the thorn
Its sang o' joy, fu' cheerie, O,
Rejoicing in the simmer morn,
Nae care to mak' it eerie, O;
Ah! little kens the sangster sweet
Aught o' the care I ha'e to meet,
That gars my restless bosom beat,
My only jo and dearie, O.
When we were bairnies on yon brae,
And youth was blinkin' bonnie, O,
Aft we wad daff the lee-lang day,
Our joys fu' sweet and monie, O.
Aft I wad chase thee o'er the lee,
And round about the thorny tree;
Or pu' the wild flowers a' for thee,
My only jo and dearie, O.
I ha'e a wish I canna tine,
'Mang a' the cares that grieve me, O,
A wish that thon wert ever mine,
And never mair to leave me, O;
Then I would dawt thee night and day,
Nae ither warldly care I'd ha'e,
Till life's warm stream forgat to play,
My only jo and dearie, O.