Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/259

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SCOTTISH SONGS.
241

Up wi't, there, there,
Dinna cheat, but drink fair,
Huzza, huzza, and huzza lads, yet.
Up wi't, &c.




Wilt thou be my dearie.

[Written by Burns, to the tune of "The Sutor's Dochter," in honour of Miss Janet Miller, of Dalswinton.]

Wilt thou be my dearie?
When sorrow wrings thy gentle heart,
Wilt thou let me cheer thee?
By the treasures of my soul,
That's the love I bear thee!
I swear and vow that only thou
Shall ever be my dearie.
Only thou, I swear and vow,
Shall ever be my dearie.

Lassie, say thou lo'es me,
Or if thou wilt not be my ain,
Say na thou'lt refuse me:
If it winna, canna be,
Thou for thine may choose me,
Let me, lassie, quickly die,
Trusting that thou lo'es me.
Lassie, let me quickly die,
Trusting that thou lo'es me.




O, my love's bonnie.

O! my love's bonnie, bonnie, bonnie,
O! my love's bonnie and dear to me;
The smile o' her lace, and her e'e's witchin' grace,
Are mair than the wealth o' this warld can gi'e.
Her voice is as sweet as the blackbird at gloamin',
When echo repeats her soft notes to the ear,
And lovely and fresh as the wild roses blooming,
That dip in the stream o' the Carron sae clear.
O! my love's bonnie, &c.

But poortith's a foe to the peace o' this bosom,
That glows sae devoutly, dear lassie, for thee;
Alas! that e'er poortith should blight love's young blossom,
When riches nae lasting contentment can gi'e.
For! my love's bonnie, &c.

Yet hope's cheerfu' sun shall aboon my head hover,
'An' guide a lone wanderer when far, far frae thee;
For ne'er till it sets will I prove a false lover,
Or think o' anither, dear lassie, but thee.
For O! thou art bonnie, &c.




Loch-Erroch Side.

[The tune called "Loch-Erroch Side" is altered from an older air called "I'm ower young to marry yet," (see p. 123.) Loch-Erroch or Ericht is a large lake in Perthshire. The words of the present song are said to be by James Tytler, author of "The bonnie brucket lassie," &c. Tytler was the son of a clergyman at Brechin, and though educated first for the church, and afterwards for the medical profession, he was mainly employed thrcugh life in literary and chemical speculations. He died in Massachusetts, North America, in 1805, aged 58. He was commonly called Balloon Tytler, from having been the first in Scotland who ascended in a fire balloon upon the plan of Montgolfier.]

As I cam' by Loch-Erroch side,
The lofty hills surveying,
The water clear, the heather blooms,
Their fragrance sweet conveying,
I met, unsought, my lovely maid,
I found her like May morning;
With graces sweet, and charms so rare,
Her person all adorning.

How kind her looks, how blest was I,
While in my arms I prest her!
And she her wishes scarce conceal'd,
As fondly I caress'd her:
She said, If that your heart be true,
If constantly you'll love me,
I heed not care nor fortune's frowns,
For nought but death shall move me.

But faithful, loving, true, and kind,
For ever thou shalt find me;
And of our meeting here so sweet,
Loch-Erroch sweet shall mind me.
Enraptured then, My lovely lass,
I cried, no more we'll tarry!
Well leave the fair Loch-Erroch side,
For lovers soon should marry.