The Book of Scottish Song/The Highland Baloc

The Highland Baloc.

[This is said to be a translation by Burns of a Gaelic nursery song which a Highland lady sung and interpreted to him. It appears to belong to the period when boldness and dexterity in cattle-lifting were accounted virtues.]

Hee, baloo, my sweet wee Donald,
Picture o' the great Clanronald;
Thou'lt be a chief o' a' thy clan,
If thou art spared to be a man.

Leeze me on thy bonnie craigie
An' thou live thou'lt lift a naigie,
Travel the country through and through,
And bring hame a Carlisle cow.

Through the Lawlands, near the Border,
Weel, my babie, may thou furder;
Herry the loons o' the laigh countrie,
Syne to the Highlands hame to me.

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