Sair sair was my heart (1826)/Allister M'Allister

---

ALLISTER M'ALLISTER

O Allister M'Allister,
Your chanter sets us a' stir,
Then to yonr bags and blaw wi' bir,
We'll dance the Highland fling.

Now Allister has tun'd his pipes,
And thrang as bumbees frae their bykes,
The lads and lasses loup the dykes,
And gather on the green.
O Allister M'Allister &e.

The miller, Hab was fidging fain,
To dance the Highland fling his lane,
He lap as high as Elspa's wame,
The like was never seen,
As round about the ring he whnds,
And cracks his thumb, and shakes his duds,
The meal flew frae his tail in cluds,
And blinded a' their een.
O Allister M'Allister, &c.

Niest rackle handed smiddy Jock,
A' blackend oʻer wi coum and smoke,
Wi' shachalin blear-e'ed Bess did yoke-
That slaverin gabbit quean.
He shook his doublet in the wund,
His feet like hammers strack the grund,
The very moudiwarts were stunn'd,
No kend what it could mean.
O Allister M'Allister &c.

Now wanton Willie was nae blate,
For he got haud o' winsome Kate,
Come here quo' he I'll shew the gate,
To dance the Highland fling.
The Highland fling he danced wi' glee,
And lap as he was gaun to flee,
Kate bak'd and babb'd sae bonnilie,
And tript it neat and clean.
O Allister M'Allister, &c.

Now Allister hes done his best,
And weary houghs are wantin rest,
Besides they sair wi' drouth were strest,
Wi' dancing sae I ween.
I true the gant e's get a lift,
And round the bicker flew like drift,
And Allister that very night,
Could scarcely stand his lane.
O Allister M'Allister, &c.