The Canary/The Boatie rows

by John Ewen

For other versions of this work, see The Boatie Rows.

The Boatie rows.

⟨O⟩ weel may the boatie row,
And better may she speed;
And leesome may the boatie row,
That wins the bairns' bread.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows indeed;
And weel may the boatie row,
That wins my bairns' bread.

⟨O⟩ weel may the boatie row,
That fills a heavy creel,
⟨And⟩ cleads us a' frae head to feet,
And buys our porrich meal
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows indeed,
And happy be the lot of a'
That wish the boatie speed.

When Jamie vow'd he would be mine,
And wan frae me my heart,
⟨O⟩ muckle lighter grew my creel,
He swore we'd never part.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows fu' weel,
And muckle lighter is the load
When love bears up the creel.

My kurtch I put upon my head,
And dress'd mysel' fu' braw,
I trow my heart was douf an' wae,
When Jamie gaed awa',
But weel may the boatie row,
And lucky be her part;
And lightsome be the lassie's care
That yields an honest heart.

When Sawney, Jock, and Janetie,
Are up and gotten lear,
They'll help to gar the boatie row,
And lighten a' our care.
The boatie rows, the boatie rows,
The boatie rows fu' weel,
And lightsome be her heart that bears
The murlain and the creel.

And when wi' age we'rt worn down,
And hirpling round the door,
They'll row to keep us dry and warn,
As we did them before.
Then weel may the boatie row,
She wins the bairns' bread;
And happy be the lot o' a'
That wish the boatie speed.
 
FINIS
 J. Neilson, printer.