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[ song has always been published without an author's name, but according to Mr. Stenhouse, the erudite annotator in Johnson's Museum, wrote the whole of it, except the last verse, which was written by Mr. John Hamilton, music-seller in Edinburgh. Hamilton issued it with his own addition, as a sheet song. Macneill did not include it among his poetical works. The song is adapted to a dancing tune called "Clunie's Reel." Elsewhere, the tune is called "The smith's a gallant fireman." It may be mentioned that Miss Blamire has a song which opens similarly to the present, and Mr. Maxwell, the editor of her Poetical Works, conjectures, with every appearance of probability, that Macneill may have seen Miss Blamire's verses.]

O think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

I'll tak' a stick into my hand, and come again and see thee.

Far's the gate ye ha'e to gang; dark's the night and eerie;

Far's the gate ye ha'e to gang; dark's the night and eerie;

Far's the gate ye ha'e to gang; dark's the night and eerie;

O stay this night wi' your love, and dinna gang and leave me.

It's but a night and hauf a day that I'll leave my dearie;

But a night and hauf a day that I'll leave my dearie;

But a night and hauf a day that I'll leave my dearie;

Whene'er the sun gaes west the loch, I'll come again and see thee.

Dinna gang, my bonnie lad, dinna gang and leave me;

Dinna gang, my bonnie lad, dinna gang and leave me;

When a' the lave are sound asleep, I am dull and eerie;

And a' the lee-lang night I'm sad, wi' thinking on my dearie.

O dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Dinna think, bonnie lassie, I'm gaun to leave thee;

Whene'er the sun gaes out o' sight, I'll come again and see thee.

Waves are rising o'er the sea; winds blaw loud and fear me;

Waves are rising o'er the sea; winds blaw loud and fear me;

While the winds and waves do roar, I am wae and drearie,

And gin ye lo'e me as ye say, ye winna gang and leave me.

O never mair, bonnie lassie, will I gang and leave thee;

Never mair, bonnie lassie, will I gang and leave thee;

Never mair, bonnie lassie, will I gang and leave thee;

E'en let the world gang as it will, I'll stay at hame and cheer thee.

Frae his hand he coost his stick; I winna gang and leave thee;

Threw his plaid into the neuk; never can I grieve thee;

Drew his boots, and flang them by; cried, My lass, be cheerie;

I'll kiss the tear frae aff thy cheek, and never leave my dearie.