The Garb of Old Gaul/Auld Robin Gray

by Anonymous

AULD ROBIN GRAY.

The summer it was smiling, all nature round was gay,
While Jenny was attending on auld Robin Gray;
For he was sick at heart, and had nae friend beside,
But only me, poor Jenny, who newly was his bride.

Ah! Jenny, I shall die, he cried, as sure as I had birth,
Then see my poor old bones, I pray, laid into the earth.
And be a widow for my sake a twelvemonth and a day,
And I will leave whate’er belongs to auld Robin Gray.

I laid poor Robin in his grave as decent as I could,
And shed a tear upon his grave, for he was very good;
I took my rock all in my hand, and in my coat I sigh'd,
O wae is me what shall I do, since poor old Robin died.

Search ev'ry part thoughout the land, there’s none like me forlorn;
I’m ready e’en to ban the day that ever I was born;
For Jamie, all I lov’d on earth, ah! he is gone away,
My father dead, my mother dead, and (illegible text) auld Robin Gray.

I rose up with the morning sun, and spun till setting day,
And one whole year of widowhood I mourn’d for Robin Gray;
I did the duty of a wife, both kind and constant too;
Let every one example take, aud Jenny's plan pursue.

I thought that Jamie he was dead, or he to me was lost,
And all my fond and youthful love entirely was crost,
I tried to sing, I tried to laugh, and pass the time away,
Robin Gray.

At length the merry bells ran round, I coudna guess the cause,
But Rodney was the man, they said, who gain’d so much applause;
I doubted if the tale was true, till Jamie came to me,
And shew'd a purse of golden ore, and said it is for thee.

Auld Robin Gray I find is dead, and still your heart is true,
Then take me, Jenny, to your arms, and I will be so too;
Mess John shall join us at the kirk, and we'll be blythe and gay;
I blush’d, consented, and replied, adieu to Robin Gray.

 

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