The Musical Charmer/John Anderson my joe

by Robert Burns

For other versions of this work, see John Anderson My Jo.

JOHN ANDERSON, MY JOE.

John Anderson, my joe, John,
when we were first acquaint,
Your locks were like the raven,
your bonny brow was brent;
But now you’re turned bald John,
your locks are like the snow,
Yet blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson, my joe.

John Anderson. my joe, John,
ye were my first conceit;
And ay at kirk and market.
I’ve kept you trim and neat;
There’s some folk says your failing, John,
but I scarce believe it’s so,
For you’re ay the same kind man to me,
John Anderson my Joe.

John Anderson, my joe, John,
we’ve seen our bairns’ bairns.
And yet, my dear John Anderson,
I’m happy in your arms;
And sae are ye in mine, John,
I'm sure ye’ll ne'er say no,
Tho’ the days are gane that we hae seen,
John Anderson, my joe.

John Anderson. my joe, John,
our siller ne’er was rise;
And yet we ne’er saw poverty
sin’ we were man and wife;
We’ve ay baen bit and brat, John;
great blessings here below
And that helps to keep peace at hame,
John Anderson, my joe.

John Anderson, my joe, John,
the warld lo’es us baith;
We ne’er spake ill o neighbours, ⟨John⟩,
nor did them ony skaith:
To live in peace and quietness
was a’ our care, ye know;
And I’m sure they ll greet when we are dead,
John Anderson, my joe.

John Anderson, my joe, John,
frae year to year we’ve past.
And soon that year maun come, John,
will bring us to our last;
But letna that affright us, John,
our hearts were ne’er our foe,
While in innocent delight we liv’d,
John Anderson, my joe.

John Anderson, my joe, John,
we clamb the hill thegither.
And mony a canty day, John,
we've had wi’ ane-anither;
Now we maun totter down, John,
but hand in hand we'll go,
And we’ll sleep thegither till we die,
John Anderson, my joe.