The Song Book No. 4/Oh! Nanny Wil't Thou Gang Wi' Me?

by Anonymous

For other versions of this work, see Oh! Nanny Wil't Thou Gang Wi' Me?.

Oh! Nanny Wil't Thou gang Wi' Me?

Oh! Nanny, wilt thou gang wi' me,
nor sigh to leave the flaunting town;
Can silent glens have charms for thee,
the lowly cot, and russet gown?
No longer drest in silk and sheen,
no longer deck'd with jewels rare,
Say, canst thou quit the busy scene,
where thou art fairest of the fair;

Oh! Nanny, when thou'rt far away,
wilt thou not cast a wish behind?
Say, canst thou face the parching ray,
nor shrink before a wintry wind?
Oh! can that soft, that gentle mien,
extremes of hardships learn to bear,
Nor sad regret each courtly scene,
where thou art fairest of the fair?

Oh! Nanny, canst thou love so true,
through perils keen with me to go,
Or when thy swain mishap shall rue,
to share with him the pang of woe?
⟨Nay⟩, should disease or pain befall,
wilt thou assume the nurses care,
⟨Nor⟩ wistful those gay scenes recall,
where thou wert fairest of the fair?

Oh! Nanny, when thy love shall die
wilt thou receive his parting breath?
Wilt thou repress each struggling sigh,
and cheer with smiles the bed of death?
And wilt thou o'er his breathless clay
strew flowers, and drop the tender tear,
⟨Nor⟩ then regret those scenes so gay,
where thou wert fairest of the fair?