The Book of Scottish Song/The Gallant Weaver

The Gallant Weaver.

[Written by Burns for Johnson's Huseam, where it appears set to a fine air called "The Weaver's March." The Cart flows through Paisley, celebrated for its productions of the loom. and it is said that "a gallant weaver" there, named Robert Wilson, offered his hand in marriage to Jean Armour, at the time when she was obliged to seek refuge with a relation in that town, to avoid the effects of her father's displeasure. In these days, a weaver was considered superior in station to a husbandman; and Burns was at first deeply jealous of his Paisley rival; but he afterwards, when Jean proved her fidelity, laughed over the subject—and the present song was in all probability suggested by reminiscences of this passage in his life.]

Where Cart rins rowin' to the sea,
By mony a flow'r and spreading tree,
There lives a lad, the lad for me,
He is a gallant weaver.
Oh, I had wooers aught or nine,
They gied me rings and ribbons fine;
And I was fear'd my heart would tine,
And I gied it to the weaver.

My daddie sign'd my tocher-band,
To gi'e the lad that has the land;
But to my heart I'll add my hand,
And gi'e it to the weaver.
While birds rejoice in leafy bowers:
While bees delight in op'ning flowers;
While corn grows green in summer showers,
I'll love my gallant weaver.

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