The Book of Scottish Song/Tam Glen
Tam Glen.
[This charming song was written by Burns for Johnson's Museum, where it is set to an old air called "Tam Glen." It is also sung to the air called "The mucking o' Geordie's byre."]
My heart is a-breaking, dear tittie,
Some counsel unto me come len';
To anger them a' is a pity,
But what will I do wi' Tam Glen?
I'm thinkin', wi' sic a braw fallow,
In puirtith we micht mak' a fen'
What care I in riches to wallow,
If I maunna marry Tam Glen?
There's Lowrie, the laird o' Drumeller,
"Gude day to you," brute! he comes ben;
He brags and he blaw s o' his siller,
But when will he dance like Tam Glen?
My minnie does constantly deave me,
And bids me beware o' young men;
They flatter, she says, to deceive me—
But wha can think sae o' Tam Glen?
My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him,
He'll gie me gude hunder merks ten;
But, if it's ordain'd I maun tak' him,
O, wha will I get but Tam Glen?
Yestreen, at the Valentine's dealin',
My heart to my mou' gied a sten;
For thrice I drew ane without failin',
And thrice it was written—Tam Glen.
The last Hallowe'en I was waukin'
My drookit sark-sleeve, as ye ken;
His likeness cam' up the house staukin',
And the very gray breeks o' Tam Glen.
Come, counsel, dear tittle, don't tarry;
I'll gi'e you my bonnie black hen,
Gif ye will advise me to marry
The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen.