The Book of Scottish Song/Wee Johnny Duncan
Wee Johnny Duncan.
[G. Crawfurd.—From the Ayr Advertiser, March 1842.]
Wee Johnny, puir man has nae mammy ava,
And his daddy was dead ere the daylight he saw,
An auld doited granny, and he, live their lane;
But wee Johnny Duncan is a' body's wean.
There's Nancy M'Kissock lives neist door but three,
Is kind to the bairn as a mither could be;
She gi'es him his sup, and she gi'es him his bane;
For wee Johnny Duncan is a' body's wean.
The Bailie's guid Lady has seven wee boys,
She spares their auld claes and their cast-away toys,
Round a muckle cock-horsey the thing's dancing fain;
O! wee Johnny Duncan is a' body's wean.
He's up at the Railroad, he's down at the Green,
And ilka bit lassie counts Johnny a frien',
The grocer gi'es candy and ally campaine;
For wee Johnny Duncan is a' body's wean.
He's into the Court house and laughs at the Deacon,
An' glowers at the Provost, an' stan's slyly keekin',
The crier says, laughing, "Boy, whar are ye ga'en?
O! come awa', Johnny, ye're a' body's wean."
In thy manhood, dear Johnny, forget not to say,
"In sorrow, and sickness, the Lord was my stay,"
And think on the days that can come not again,
When friends loved and cherished the wee orphan wean.