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THE RIGS O' BARLEY.

AIR,-Corn rigs are bonnie.

I.

Ir was upon a Lammas night,
When corn rigs are bonnie,
Beneath the moon's unclouded light,
I held awa to Annie:

The time flew by wi' tentless heed,
Till 'tween the late and early,
Wi' sma' persuasion she agreed
To see me thro' the barley.
Corn rigs, an' barley rigs,

An' corn rigs are bonnie:
I'll ne'er forget that happy night
Amang the rigs wi' Annie.

II.

The sky was blue, the wind was still,
The moon was shining clearly;
I set her down wi' right good will
Amang the rigs o' barley;

I ken't her heart was a' my ain;
I lov'd her most sincerely;
I kiss'd her owre and owre again,
Amang the rigs o' barley.

III.

I lock'd her in my fond embrace;
Her heart was beating rarely:
My blessings on that happy place,
Amang the rigs o' barley;

But by the moon and stars so bright,
That shone that hour so clearly!
She aye shall bless that happy night,
Amang the rigs o' barley.

IV.

I hae been blythe wi' comrades dear:
I hae been merry drinking;
I hae been joyfu' gath'rin gear;
I hae been happy thinking:
But a' the pleasures e'er I saw,

Tho' three times doubl'd fairly
That happy night was worth them a',
Amang the rigs o' barley.
Corn rigs, an' barley rigs,

An' corn rigs are bonnie:
I'll ne'er forget that happy night
Amang the rigs wi' Annie.

1

GREEN GROW THE RASHES.

CHORUS.

GREEN grow the rashes, O;

Green grow the rashes, O;

The sweetest hours that e'er I spend1
Are spent amang the lasses, O.

I.

There's nought but care on ev'ry han',
In every hour that passes, O:
What signifies the life o' man,
An' 'twere na for the lasses, O.

II.

The warl'ly race may riches chase,
An' riches still may fly them, O;
An' tho' at last they catch them fast,
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O.

"spend":―The 1793 and 1794 editions read "spent."

III.

But gi'e me a cannie hour at e'en,
My arms about my dearie, O;
An' warl❜ly cares, an' warl'ly men,
May a' gae tapsalteerie, O!

IV.

For you sae douce, ye sneer at this,
Ye're nought but senseless asses, O;
The wisest man the warl' e'er saw,1
He dearly lov'd the lasses, O.

V.

Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes, O:
Her prentice han' she tried on man,
An' then she made the lasses, O.

CHORUS.

Green grow the rashes, O;
Green grow the rashes, O;
The sweetest hours that e'er I spend
Are spent amang the lasses, O.

MACPHERSON'S FAREWELL.

AIR,-Macpherson's rant.

CHORUS.

SAE rantingly, sae wantonly,

Sae dauntingly gaed he;

He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round,
Below the gallows-tree.

1 The 1786 edition reads "the warl' saw."

I.

Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,
The wretch's destinie!
Macpherson's time will not be long
On yonder gallows-tree.

II.

Oh, what is death but parting breath?
On many a bloody plain,

I've dar'd his face, and in this place
I scorn him yet again!

III.

Untie these bands from off my hands,
And bring to me my sword.

And there's no a man in all Scotland,
But I'll brave him at a word.

IV.

I've liv'd a life of sturt and strife;

I die by treacherie:

It burns my heart I must depart,

And not avengèd be.

V.

Now farewell light-thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky!
May coward shame distain his name,

The wretch that dares not die!

CHORUS.

Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,

Sae dauntingly gaed he;

He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round, Below the gallows-tree.

AY WAUKIN, O.

CHORUS.

AYE waukin', O,

Waukin still an' weary:
Sleep I can get nane

For thinking on my dearie.

I.

Simmer's a pleasant time:

Flowers of every colour; The water rins o'er the heugh, An' I long for my true lover.

II.

When I sleep I dream,

When I wauk I'm eerie:

Sleep I can get nane

For thinkin' on my dearie.

III.

Lanely night comes on,

A' the lave are sleepin';

I think on my bonnie lad,
An' bleer my een wi' greetin'.

CHORUS.

Ay waukin, O,

Waukin still and weary:
Sleep I can get nane

For thinking on my dearie.

THE SILVER TASSIE.

I.

Go fetch to me a pint o' wine,

And fill it in a silver tassie;

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