Bide ye yet (1825)/In winter when the rain rain'd cauld

in winter when the rain rain'd cauld.

In winter when the rain rain’d cauld.
⁠And frost and snaw on ilka hill,
And Boreas wi’ his blasts sae bauld,
⁠Was threat’ning a’ our kye to kill,
Then Bell my wife, wha loes nae strife,
⁠She said to me right hastily,
Get up Gudeman, save Crnmmy’s life,
⁠And tak your auld cloak about ye.

My Crummie is a useful cow,
⁠And she is come of a good kyne;
Aft has she wet the bairns’ mou’,
⁠And I am laith that she should tyne;
Get up, gudeman, it is fu’ time,
⁠The sun shines in the lift sae hie
Sloth never made a gracious end,
⁠Go tak’ your auld cloak about ye.

My cloak was anes a gude grey cloak,
⁠When it was fitting for my wear;
But now its scantly worth a groat,
⁠For I have worn't this thretty year;
Let’s spend the gear that we have won,
⁠We little ken the day we’ll die;
Then I’ll be proud, since I hae sworn
⁠To hae a new cloak about me.

In days when our King Robert rang,
⁠His trews they cost but half-a-crown,
He said they were a groat o’er, dear,
⁠And ca’d the taylor thief and lown.
He was the king that wore a crown,
⁠And thou the man of low degree,
'Tis pride puts a’ the country down,
⁠Sae tak thy auld cloak about ye.

Every land has it’s ain laugh,
⁠Ilk kind of corn it has it’s ain hool,
I think the warld is a’ run wrang,
⁠When ilka wife her man wad ruie;
Do ye not see Rob, Jock, and Hab,
⁠As they are girded gallantly;
While I sit harklin’ in the ase,
⁠I’ll Lae’ a new cloak about me.

Gademan, I wat ‘tis thirty vears
⁠Since we did ane amther ken ;
And we have had between us twa
⁠Of lads end bonny lasses ten;
Now they are women grown and men,
⁠I wish and pray well may they be;
And if you prove a good husband,
⁠E’en tak’ your auld cloak about ye.

Bell my wife, she lo'es hae strife;
⁠But she wad guide me, if she can,
And to maintain an easy life,
⁠I aft maun yield, tho’ I’m gudeman;
Nought’s to be had at woman’s hand,
⁠Unless ye gie her a‘ the plea:
Then I'll leave aff whare I begun,
⁠And tak my auld cloak about me.