The Book of Scottish Song/The Lassie by the Loch

The Lassie by the Loch.

[The author of this song is Robt. Carmichael, who served for several years in the Mediterranean, on board H. M. ship Unite, with Capt. Charles Gray, author of "Lays and Lyrics."—Air, "Wat ye wha I met yestreen?"]

Frae Caledonia's climes afar,
Upon the rough an' roaring main,
I sail'd, marine, in man-o'-war,
At last, on leave, came home again.
As I ilk youthfu' haunt did pass,
An' near my native village drew;
I little thought upon the lass—
That now dwells by the loch sae blue.

I heard sweet music's melting din,
And merry young folks' gigglin glee;
Then kindly I was usher'd in,
As if they'd met to welcome me.
A lassie there fu' featly danced,
And through the reel sae lichtly flew;
In raptures she my soul entranced—
The lassie by the loch sae blue.

I saw, while gazing on her face,
The rose an' lily close allied;
And on ilk bloomin' cheek could trace,
The scented apple's sunny side.
Her lips were like the red-rose bud,
Before the sun has sipp'd its dew;
Her bosom like the snawy clud
Reflected in the loch sae blue.

Soon to her mither's house I went,
An' courted her wi' love sincere;
To marry me she ga'e consent,
When o' the navy I was clear.
That nane but she should be my wife,
I pledged wi' her my written voo;
Meanwhile, she left the shores o' Fife
To dwell beside the loch sae blue.

It wasna lang ere I was free,
For peace to Europe soon return'd;
An' my dear destined bride to see,
Wi' fervent glow my bosom burn'd.
I sought my native land—I found
My lassie to her pledge was true;
An' soon by Hymen's bands was bound
To Bessie—by the loch sae blue.

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