The Merry Muses of Caledonia/Can ye Labour Lea, Young Man?

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The Merry Muses of Caledonia by Robert Burns Can ye Labour Lea, Young Man?

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CAN YE LABOUR LEA, YOUNG MAN?

Tune—"Sir Arch. Grant's Strathspey."

An old song, of which there are many versions. The title appears to have been a favourite with the old rhymers.

O can ye labour lea, young man?  O can ye labour lea? Gae back the road ye came again,  Ye ne'er shall scorn me. I fee'd a man at Martinmas,  Wi' arle pennies three, But a' the faut I had to him,  He couldna labour lea. O can ye, &c. A stibble rig is easy ploughed,  And fallow land is free, But what a silly coof is he,  That couldna labour lea. O can ye, &c. The bonny bush and benty knowe,  The ploughman points his sock in, He sheds the roughness, lays it by.  And bauldly ploughs his yoking. O can ye, &c.