The Book of Scottish Song/What can a young lassie

What can a young lassie.

[There is an old song, the burthen of which is the same as the opening of the present,—"What can a young lassie do wi' an auld man?" From this Burns took the hint, and furnished the following expressive ditty for Johnson's Museum in 1790. The tune is very old.]

What can a young lassie, what shall a young lassie,
What can a young lassie do wi' an auld man?
Bad luck to the pennie that tempted my minnie,
To sell her poor Jenny for siller and lan'!

He's always compleenin frae mornin' to e'enin',
He hosts and he hirples the wearie day lang;
He's doy'lt and he's dozin, his bluid it is frozen,
O, drearie's the night wi' a crazy auld man!

He hums and he hankers, he frets and he cankers,
I never can please him, do a' that I can;
He's peevish and jealous of a' the young fellows,
O, dool on the day I met wi' an auld man!

My auld auntie Katie upon me takes pity,
I'll do my endeavour to follow her plan,
I'll cross him, and wrack him, until I heart-break him,
And then his auld brass will buy me a new pan.

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