The Bad wife/Highland laddie, O

by Robert Tannahill

For other versions of this work, see The Dear Highland Laddie O.

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THE DEAR HIGHLAND LADDIE.

Blythe was the day when he fee'd wi‘ my father O,
Happy was the time when we herded together O;
Sweet were the hours when he row‘d me in his plaidie O,
And vow’d to be mine my dear Highland Laddie O.

But a wae's me wi' their sodgeridg sae greedy O,
The laird's ta'en awa my braw Highland Laddie O;
Misty are the glens and the dark hills are cloudy
That ance seem'd so blythe wi' my dear Highland Laddie O.

The blae-berry banks are now lonesome and dreary O,
Muddy are the streams that gush'd down sae clearly O,
Silent are the rocks that re-echoed sae gladly O,
To the wild melting strains of my dear Highland Laddie O.

But farewell my ewes and farewell my doggie O,
Farewell ye knowes now sae lanesome and scroggy O,
Farewell Glenfeoch my mammy and my daddy O.
O, a‘ can I leave but my dear Highland Laddie O.