The Merry Muses of Caledonia/The Jolly Gauger

by Robert Burns

THE JOLLY GAUGER.

Tune—"We'll gang nae mair a rovin"

Anonymous. A close parody on "There was a jolly beggar," ascribed to King James V.

There was a jolly gauger, an' a gaugin' he did ride,
And he has met a beggar lass down by yon river side;
An' we'll gang nae mair a rovin' wi' ladies to the wine,
When a beggar wi' her meal-pocks can fidge her tail sae fine.

Amang the broom he laid her, amang the broom sae green,
And he's fa'n to the beggar, as she had been a queen;
An' we'll gang nae mair a rovin' wi' ladies to the wine,
When a beggar wi' her meal-pocks can fidge her tail sae fine.

My blessings on thee, laddie, thou's done my turn sae weel,
Wilt thou accept, dear laddie, my pock and pickle meal?
An' we'll gang nae mair a rovin' wi' ladies to the wine,
When a beggar wi' her meal-pocks can fidge her tail sae fine.

Sae blythe the beggar took the bent, like ony bird in spring,
Sae blythe the beggar took the bent, and merrily did sing;
An' we'll gang nae mair a rovin' wi' ladies to the wine,
When a beggar wi' her meal-pocks can fidge her tail sae fine.

My blessings on the gauger, o' gaugers he's the chief;
Sic kail ne'er crost my kettle, nor sic a joint o' beef;
An' we'll gang nae mair a rovin' wi' ladies to the wine,
When a beggar wi' her meal-pocks can fidge her tail sae fine.