The Book of Scottish Song/The Bonnie Wee Wifie
The Bonnie Wee Wifie.
[F. Bennoch.—Here first printed.—Air, "Mrs. M'Donald."]
My bonnie wee wifie, I'm waefu' to leave thee—
To leave thee sae lanely an' far, far frae me;
Come night an' come morning, I'll soon be returning,
Then, O my dear wifie, how happy we'll be.
The night it is cauld, an' the way dreigh an' dreary,
The snaw's drifting blin'ly o'er moorland an' lea;
All nature looks eerie—how can she be cheerie,
For weel maun she ken that I'm parted frae thee.
Oh wae is the lammy that's lost its dear mammy;
An' wae is the bird that sits chirping alane;
The plaints they are making—their wee bit hearts breaking,
Are throbbings o' pleasure compared wi' my pain.
The sun to the simmer—the bark to the timmer,—
The sense to the saul, and the light to the e'e,—
The bud to the blossom—sae thou'rt to my bosom,
Oh wae's my heart, wifie, when parted frae thee.
There's naething availing in weeping and wailing,
Though fortune be failing an' friendship decay:
But love in hearts glowing—its riches bestowing,
Bequeaths us a treasure death takes not away.
Let nae gruesome feeling creep o'er thy heart, stealing
The bloom frae thy cheek when thou'rt thinking of me;
Come night an' come morning—then hame, hame returning,
Nae mair, cozie wifie, we parted shall be.