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.