Five Scotch Songs/There's Nae Luck About the House
S O N G S.
THERE’S NAE LUCK ABOUT THE HOUSE.
There’s nae luck about the house,
There’s nae luck at a’;
There’s little pleasure in the house
When our gudeman’s awa.
And are you sure the news is true?
And are you sure he’s weel?
Is this a time to think o’ wark?
Mak’ haste, set by your wheel.
Is this a time to think o’ wark,
When Colin’s at the door?
Gi’e me my cloak, I’ll to the quay,
And see him come ashore.
O gi’e me down my bigonet,
My bishop satin gown,
For I maun tell the bailie’s wife
That Colin’s came to town.
My Sunday’s shoon they maun gae on,
My hose o’ pearl blue,
It’s a’ to please my ain gudeman,
For he’s baith leal and true.
Rise up an' mak' a clean fireside,
Put on the muckle pot;
Gi'e little Kate her cotton gown,
And Jock his Sunday's coat.
And mak' their shoon as black as slaes,
Their hose as white as snaw;
It's a' to please my ain gudeman,
For he's been lang awa.
There are two hens upon the bauk,
They've fed this month and mair,
Mak' haste and thraw their necks about,
That Colin weel may fare;
And spread the table neat and clean,
Gar ilka thing look braw;
It's a' for love of my gudeman,
For he's been lang awa.
Sae true his heart, sae smooth his speech,
His breath like caller air,
His very foot has music in't,
When he comes up the stair.
And will I see his face again?
And will I hear him speak?
I'm downright dizzy wi' the thocht,
In troth I'm like to greet.
The cauld blasts o' the winter wind,
That thirl'd through my heart,
They're a' blawn by, I ha'e him safe,
Till death we'll never part.
But what puts parting in my head?
It may be far awa;
The present moment is our ain,
The neist we never saw.
Since Colin's weel, I'm weel content,
I hae nae mair to crave;
Could I but live to mak' him blest,
I'm blest aboon the lave.
And will I see his face again?
And will I hear him speak?
I'm downright dizzy wi' the thocht,
In troth, I'm like to greet.