Bonny lass/Tell me the way to Woo

TELL ME THE WAY TO WOO

⁠O tell me my bonny young lassie,
⁠O tell me the way for to woo!
⁠O tell me, my bonny sweet lassie,
⁠O tell me the way for to woo!
Say, maun I roose your red cheeks like the morning;
⁠lips like the rose, when it's moisten'd with dew?
And say, maun I roose your een a pawky scorning?
⁠O tell me, dear lassie, the way for to woo.

O far hae I wander'd dear lassie
⁠to see thee I've sail'p the salt sea;
I've travel'd o'er muirlands and mountains
⁠and houseless lain cauld on the leas,
I never hae try'd yet to mak love to ony,
⁠never lov'd ony till ance I lov'd you;
Now we're alane in the green wood sae bonny,
⁠now tell me, dear lassie, the way for to woo.

What care I for your wand'ring, laddie,
⁠or yet for your sailing the sea?
It was nae for nought ye left Peggy,
⁠my tocher it brought you to me.
An' say hae ye gowd for to busk me ay gandy,
⁠wi' ribbons, an' pearls an breast-knot anew,
A house that is canty wi' plenishin' plenty,
⁠without them ye never need come for to woo.

I hae nae gowd to busk ye ay gaudy,
⁠nor yet buy you ribbon enow;
I brag nae o' house, nor o' plenty,
⁠but I hae a heart that is true:
I came na for tocher, I ne'er heard o' ony,
⁠never lo'ed Peggy, nor e'er brak my ⟨vow⟩;
I've wander'd, poor fool, for a face sause a bonny,
⁠I little thought this was the way for to woo.

Hae na ye roos'd my red cheeks like the morning,
⁠an' roos'd up my cherry-red mou?
Ye've come o'er the sea, muir, and mountain,
⁠what mair Johnny need ye to woo?
An far hae ye wander'd, I ken, my dear laddie,
⁠now ye hae faund me, ye've nae cause to rue;
Wi health we'll hae plenty, I'll never gang gaudy,
⁠I ne'er wish'd for mair than a heart that is true.