The Book of Scottish Song/The Cogie 2

The Cogie.

[Daniel M'Phail, (see p. 192.)—Tune, "Loch-Erroch Side."]

Let bardies tune the rural strain,
And sing the loves o' nymph or swain,
Or mourn the hapless lover's pain,
That's slighted by his dearie.
But me, nae tale o' love-sick dame,
Shall lighten to the paths o' fame,
My dearest joy, my only theme,
Shall be a social cogie.

In morn o' life, wi' cantie glee,
We mark wi' youthfu' fancy's e'e,
Our daddies roun' the barley bree,
Fu' couth an' unco cheerie.
But when to manhood's height we speel,
An' meet through life some hearty chiel,
In friendship's glow, it's then we feel,
The pleasures o' the cogie.

Through life, when fortune turns her wheel,
And ruin's blast blaws roun' our biel,
Nae frien'ly han' then near to shiel,
But a' gae tapsalteerie;
E'en then, wi' some leal-hearted frien',
Wha's life ance happier days ha'e seen,
We baith on hope our sorrows lean,
And cry, "anither cogie."

See lyart age, wi' joyless years,
On life's dark brink wi' dowie fears,
Nae fostering hope his bosom cheers,
The prospect's dark an' drearie:
E'en then, when tales o' auld langsyne
Bring youthfu' cantie days to min',
Mang former joys our cares we tyne,
An' toom the cheering cogie.

Thus ilka scene o' life we see,
Is strongly mark'd wi' social glee;
Then let us taste the joys that flee—
In youth or age be cheerie.
Then roun' when social spirits join,
An' hearts an' han's in friendship twine,
Owre whiskey, nappy yill, or wine,
'Tis still a social cogie.

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