Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/91

Rh At bridal and infare I've braced me wi' pride;

The bruse I ha'e won, and a kiss o' the bride;

And loud was the laughter gay fellows among,

When I utter'd my banter and chorus'd my song.

Dowie to dree are jesting and glee,

When poverty parts gude companie.

Wherever I gaed the blythe lasses smiled sweet,

And mithers and aunties were mair than discreet,

While kebbuck and bicker were set on the board;

But now they pass by me, and never a word.

So let it be, for the worldly and slie

Wi' poverty keep nae companie.

[ and sung to the tune of "Todlin' Hame," by, a well-known eccentric character in Glasgow, who died a few years back. The song is supposed to be the ditty of a road-mender, and honest John's antipathy to steam-boats may be accounted for from the fact, that when they were introduced on the Clyde, many of the roads to the western coast became deserted, and the road-maker's avocation, of course, either altogether or partially dispensed with in these localities.]

[ of Dr. . The Lewis Gordon alluded to was third son to the duke of Gordon. He declared for prince Charles on the rising in 1745, and was afterwards attainted, but escaped to France, where he died in 1754.]

Lewie Gordon hame,

And the lad I daurna name;

Though his back be at the wa',

Here's to him that's far awa'!

Ochon, my Highlandman!

O my bonnie Highlandman!

Weel would I my true love ken,

Amang ten thousand Highlandmen.

O! to see his tartan trews,

Bonnet blue, and laigh-heel'd shoes,

Philabeg aboon his knee!

That's the lad that I'll gang wi'.

Ochon, &c.