The King's muster/Up in the morning early

by John Hamilton (1761-1814)

For other versions of this work, see Up in the morning early (Hamilton).

UP IN THE MORNING EARLY.

Cauld blaws the win' frae north to south,
And drift is driving sairly;
The sheep are conring i’ the heugh,
O sirs! it's winter fairly.
Now up in the morning's no for rue,
Up in the morning early;
I'd rather gang supperless to my bed,
Than rise in the morning early.

Rude rairs the blast amang the woods
The branches tirlin barely;
Amang the chimley taps it thuds,
And frost is nippen sairly.
Now up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
To sit a' night I'd rather agree,
Than rise in the morning early.

The sun peeps o’er yon southlan’ hill,
Like onie timorous carlie;
Just blinks a wee, then sinks again,
And that we find severely.
Now up in the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
When snaw blaws into the chimley cheek,
Wha’d rise in the morning early.

Nae linties lilt on hedge or bush,
Poor things they suffer sairly;
In cauldrife quarters a' the night,
A' day they feed but sparely.
Now up ⟨in⟩ the morning’s no for me,
Up in the morning early;
What fate can be waur, in winter time,
Than rise in the morning early.

A cosey house, and a cantie wife,
Keeps aye a body cheery:
And pantry stow’d wi’ meal and maut,
It answers unco rarely.
But up in the morning na, na na,
Up in the morning early;
The gowans maun glint on bank an’ brae
Ere I rise in the morning early.