my collier laddie
“whare live ye, my bonie lass?
and tell me what they ca' ye;”
“my name,” she says, “is mistress jean,
and i follow the collier laddie.”
“my name, she says, &c.
“see you not yon hills and dales
the sun shines on sae brawlie;
they a' are mine, and they shall be thine,
gin ye'll leave your collier laddie.
“they a' are mine, &c.
“ye shall gang in gay attire,
weel buskit up sae gaudy;
and ane to wait on every hand,
gin ye'll leave your collier laddie.”
“and ane to wait, &c.
“tho' ye had a' the sun shines on,
and the earth conceals sae lowly,
i wad turn my back on you and it a',
and embrace my collier laddie.
“i wad turn my back, &c.
“i can win my five pennies in a day,
an' spen't at night fu' brawlie:
and make my bed in the collier's neuk,
and lie down wi' my collier laddie.
“and make my bed, &c.
“love for love is the bargain for me,
tho' the wee cot-house should haud me;
and the warld before me to win my bread,
and fair fa' my collier laddie!”
“and the warld before me, &c.