An early production of Burns, on an old model, written, it is supposed, when Jean Armour was "under a cloud." The first verse appears in most editions of Burns's works.
Altho' my back be at the wa',
An' tho' he be the fautor;
Altho' my back be at the wa',
I'll drink his health in water.
O wae gae by his wanton sides,
Sae brawly's he could flatter.
Though for his sake I'm slighted sair,
An' dree the kintra clatter;
But let them say whate'er they like,
Yet, here's his health in water.
He followed me baith out and in,
Thro' a' the nooks o' Killie;
He followed me baith out and in,
Wi' a stiff stanin' pillie.
But when he gat atween my legs,
We made an unco splutter;
An' haith, I trow, I soupled it,
Tho' bauldly he did blatter;
But now my back is at the wa',
Yet here's his health in water.
