Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns Part 21

Tune--"Sodger Laddie."

I once was a maid, tho' I cannot tell when, And still my delight is in proper young men; Some one of a troop of dragoons was my daddie, No wonder I'm fond of a sodger laddie, Sing, lal de lal, &c.

The first of my loves was a swaggering blade, To rattle the thundering drum was his trade; His leg was so tight, and his cheek was so ruddy, Transported I was with my sodger laddie.

But the G.o.dly old chaplain left him in the lurch; The sword I forsook for the sake of the church: He ventur'd the soul, and I risked the body, 'Twas then I proved false to my sodger laddie.

Full soon I grew sick of my sanctified sot, The regiment at large for a husband I got; From the gilded spontoon to the fife I was ready, I asked no more but a sodger laddie.

But the peace it reduc'd me to beg in despair, Till I met old boy in a Cunningham fair, His rags regimental, they flutter'd so gaudy, My heart it rejoic'd at a sodger laddie.

And now I have liv'd--I know not how long, And still I can join in a cup and a song; But whilst with both hands I can hold the gla.s.s steady, Here's to thee, my hero, my sodger laddie.

Recitativo

Poor Merry-Andrew, in the neuk, Sat guzzling wi' a tinkler-hizzie; They mind't na wha the chorus teuk, Between themselves they were sae busy: At length, wi' drink an' courting dizzy, He stoiter'd up an' made a face; Then turn'd an' laid a smack on Grizzie, Syne tun'd his pipes wi' grave grimace.

Air

Tune--"Auld Sir Symon."

Sir Wisdom's a fool when he's fou; Sir Knave is a fool in a session; He's there but a 'prentice I trow, But I am a fool by profession.

My grannie she bought me a beuk, An' I held awa to the school; I fear I my talent misteuk, But what will ye hae of a fool?

For drink I would venture my neck; A hizzie's the half of my craft; But what could ye other expect Of ane that's avowedly daft?

I ance was tied up like a stirk, For civilly swearing and quaffin; I ance was abus'd i' the kirk, For towsing a la.s.s i' my daffin.

Poor Andrew that tumbles for sport, Let naebody name wi' a jeer; There's even, I'm tauld, i' the Court A tumbler ca'd the Premier.

Observ'd ye yon reverend lad Mak faces to tickle the mob; He rails at our mountebank squad,-- It's rivals.h.i.+p just i' the job.

And now my conclusion I'll tell, For faith I'm confoundedly dry; The chiel that's a fool for himsel', Guid Lord! he's far dafter than I.

Recitativo

Then niest outspak a raucle carlin, Wha kent fu' weel to cleek the sterlin; For mony a pursie she had hooked, An' had in mony a well been douked; Her love had been a Highland laddie, But weary fa' the waefu' woodie!

Wi' sighs an' sobs she thus began To wail her braw John Highlandman.

Air

Tune--"O, an ye were dead, Guidman."

A Highland lad my love was born, The Lalland laws he held in scorn; But he still was faithfu' to his clan, My gallant, braw John Highlandman.

Chorus

Sing hey my braw John Highlandman!

Sing ho my braw John Highlandman!

There's not a lad in a' the lan'

Was match for my John Highlandman.

With his philibeg an' tartan plaid, An' guid claymore down by his side, The ladies' hearts he did trepan, My gallant, braw John Highlandman.

Sing hey, &c.

We ranged a' from Tweed to Spey, An' liv'd like lords an' ladies gay; For a Lalland face he feared none,-- My gallant, braw John Highlandman.

Sing hey, &c.

They banish'd him beyond the sea.

But ere the bud was on the tree, Adown my cheeks the pearls ran, Embracing my John Highlandman.

Sing hey, &c.

But, och! they catch'd him at the last, And bound him in a dungeon fast: My curse upon them every one, They've hang'd my braw John Highlandman!

Sing hey, &c.

And now a widow, I must mourn The pleasures that will ne'er return: The comfort but a hearty can, When I think on John Highlandman.

Sing hey, &c.

Recitativo

A pigmy sc.r.a.per wi' his fiddle, Wha us'd at trystes an' fairs to driddle.

Her strappin limb and gausy middle (He reach'd nae higher) Had hol'd his heartie like a riddle, An' blawn't on fire.

Wi' hand on hainch, and upward e'e, He croon'd his gamut, one, two, three, Then in an arioso key, The wee Apoll Set off wi' allegretto glee His giga solo.