The Canary/A Lassie all alone
For other versions of this work, see A Lassie all alone.
A Lassie all alone.
As I stood by yon roofless tower, Where the wa'-flower scents the dewy air,Where the howlet mourns in her ivy bower,And tells the midnight moon her care. A lassie all alone was making her moan, Lamenting our lad sbeyond the sea; In the bluidy wars they fa', and our honour's gaen and a',And broken-hearted we maun die.
The winds were laid, the air was still,The stars they shot alang the sky;The tod was howling on the hill,And the distant echoing glens reply.A lassie, &c.
The burn adown its hazally path,Was rushing by the ruin'd wa',Hasting to join the sweeping Nith,Whase roarings seems to rise and fa'.A lassie, &c:
The cauld blae north was streaming forthHer lights, wi' hissing eerie din;Athort the lift they start and shift,Like fortune's favours, tint as win.A lassie, '&c.
Now, looking over firth and fauld,Her horn the pale-fac'd Cynthia rear'd,When, lo! in form of minstrel auld,A stern and stalwart ghaist appear’d.A lassie, &c.
And frae his harp sic strains did flow,Might rous'd the slumbering dead to hear,But, oh! it was a tale of woeAs ever met a Briton's ear.A lassie, &c.
He sang wi' joy his former day,He weeping wail'd his latter times;But what he laid it was nae play,I winna ventur't in my rhymes.A lassie, &c.
O that I had ne'er been married.
O that I had ne'er been married,I wad never had nae care;Now I've gotten wife and bairns,And they cry crowdie evermair.Ance crowdie, twice crowdie,Three times crowdie in a day;Gin ye crowdie ony mairYe'll crowdie a' my meal away.
Waefu' want and hunger fley me,Glowrin by the hallan en';⟨Sair⟩ I fight them at the door,But aye I'm eerie they come ben.Ance crowdie, &c.
O gude Ale comes.
O gude ale comes, and gude ale goes,Gude ale gars me sell my hose,⟨Sell⟩ my hose, and pawn my shoon,⟨Gude⟩ ale keeps my heart aboon.