The Book of Scottish Song/What ails this heart
What ails this heart.
[Susanna Blamire.—Air, "Sir James Baird."—"This song," says Mr. Maxwell, "seems to have been a favourite with the authoress, for I have met with it in various forms among her papers; and the labour bestowed upon it has been well repaid by the popularity it has all along enjoyed. The edition given, the best that has yet been in types, is printed from a copy of several of her poems and songs, fairly and carefully written out, apparently either for publication or for the perusal of a friend, all of which appear to have got her final corrections. See the air in Neil Gow's First Collection of Reels, &c. 3d edit. p. 8. It forms the 541st song in 'The Scots Musical Museum,' vol. vi., first published in June 1803. The original title of the air seems to have been 'My dearie, an' thou dee.' It is the second song to the music, the first being Gall's beautiful 'O, Mary, turn awa'.' 'Both of these songs,' says Mr. Stenhouse, 'are excellent.'"]
What ails this heart o' mine?
What ails this watery e'e?
What gars me a' turn cauld as death
When I take leave o' thee?
When thou art far awa'
Thou'lt dearer grow to me;
But change o' place and change o' fok
May gar thy fancy jee.
When I gae out at e'en,
Or walk at morning air,
Ilk rustling bush will seem to say
I us'd to meet thee there.
Then I'll sit down and cry,
And live aneath the tree,
And when a leaf fa's i' my lap
I'll ca't a word frae thee.
I'll hie me to the bower
That thou wi' roses tied.
And where wi' mony a blushing bud
I strove mysel' to hide.
I'll doat on ilka spot
Where I ha'e been wi' thee;
And ca' to mind some kindly word
By ilka burn and tree!
Wi' sic thoughts i' my mind,
Time through the world may gae,
And find my heart in twenty years
The same as 'tis to-day.
'Tis thoughts that bind the soul,
And keep friends i' the e'e;
And gin I think I see thee aye,
What can part thee and me!