The Book of Scottish Song/The Toom Pouch

The Toom Pouch.

[Taken down from the singing of Jamie, a natural who frequents the watering places of Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. We know not who is the author of the song, nor whether it has been before printed.—Air, "The auld mans mare's dead."]

O weary on the toom pouch,
It shames us a' the toom pouch;
Sic times as we ha'e aften seen,
Make mony a waefu' toom pouch.

Of a' the ills in life's career,
The want o' bread and beef and beer,
The taunt o' men, and women's jeer—
The greatest is the toom pouch.
O weary on, &c.

An empty purse is slighted sair,
Gang ye to market, kirk, or fair,
Ye'll no be muckle thought o' there
Gin ye gang wi' a toom pouch.
O weary on, &c.

An empty purse is ill to wear,
An empty rurse is ill to share,
E'en lovers' friendship canna bear
To hear ought o' a toom pouch.
O weary on, &c.

But O, ye lasses blythe and clean,
Just let me tell ye as a frien',
Whene'er you meet your lads at e'en,
Be canny on the toom pouch.
O weary on, &c.

For fegs! the times are no the thing
To mak' our merry taverns ring;
And wha the deil could dance and sing
Gin pester'd wi' a toom pouch?
O weary on, &c.

Sae dinna ca' your laddie shy,
And dinna say he's cauld and dry,
And dinna speak o' sweeties.—Fie!
Be mindfu' o' the toom pouch.
O weary on, &c.

For kind may be his heart and true,
And weel and warmly may he lo'e,
And fondly kiss your cherry mou',
Although he wears a toom pouch.
O weary on, &c.

But may be times will mend a wee,
When twa may venture to be three;
But, gudesake, lasses! ne'er agree
To marry wi' a toom pouch.
O weary on, &c.

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