The Blue Bonnets o'er the Border (1826, Stirling)/Rob Rorryson's Bonnet
ROB RORRYSON'S BONNET.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell o' Rob Rorryson's bonnet,
Ye'll a' hae heard tell o' Rob Rorryson's bonnet;
It's no for the bonnet, but the head that was in it,
Gar'd the hail Parish speak o' Rob Rorryson's bonnet,
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell o' Rob Rorryson's bonnet;
It's no for the bonnet, but the head that was in it,
Gar'd the hail Parish speak o' Rob Rorryson's bonnet,
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
This bonnet it cover'd his head frae the rain,
It serv'd for a craddle when he was at hame;
And when the wife drank, or gaed out o' the thiets,
This very same bonnet aft dadded her cheeks,
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
It serv'd for a craddle when he was at hame;
And when the wife drank, or gaed out o' the thiets,
This very same bonnet aft dadded her cheeks,
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
When Robby grew gude and began for to pray,
Then it was his cushion to keep his knees frae the clay;
And when Robby flyte and began for to swear,
This very same bonnet was wav'd in the air.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
Then it was his cushion to keep his knees frae the clay;
And when Robby flyte and began for to swear,
This very same bonnet was wav'd in the air.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
This bonnet at first cost half-a-crown,
But tho' his lang lifetime it sav'd mony a poun';
For it served Robby in a' times o' need,
Besides when out-by for to cover his head.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
But tho' his lang lifetime it sav'd mony a poun';
For it served Robby in a' times o' need,
Besides when out-by for to cover his head.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
It serv'd for the bellows to blow up the fire,
When the borrow was broken it mucked the byre.
And when wi' fatigue this bonnet was worn,
Thro' the holes that was in it he riddled the corn.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
When the borrow was broken it mucked the byre.
And when wi' fatigue this bonnet was worn,
Thro' the holes that was in it he riddled the corn.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
It had a red tap like a muckle black blybe.
And it was slutched o'er on ilka hand side;
Some said it was black, some said it was blue,
It was a wee thing o' baith as a body might true.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
And it was slutched o'er on ilka hand side;
Some said it was black, some said it was blue,
It was a wee thing o' baith as a body might true.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
This bonnet was weel worth the keeping atweel,
It was his amory, his kist, and a dish for his meal;
He made it his bo'ster, his tatty-pock too,
He tried it wi' kail but it let out the broo.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
It was his amory, his kist, and a dish for his meal;
He made it his bo'ster, his tatty-pock too,
He tried it wi' kail but it let out the broo.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
But how Robby got it to serve a' these ends,
Besides a' the fools, there's few wise fouks that kens;
But when Robby died it was there on the spot,
He would hae it in the coffin, but it was forgot.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
Besides a' the fools, there's few wise fouks that kens;
But when Robby died it was there on the spot,
He would hae it in the coffin, but it was forgot.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
But peace to the head for it's now in the mools,
It was a wonder to wise fouks besides unto fools;
But of what sort o' wisdom this head was possess'd,
There's naebody kens, so there's as few will miss'd.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.
It was a wonder to wise fouks besides unto fools;
But of what sort o' wisdom this head was possess'd,
There's naebody kens, so there's as few will miss'd.
Ye'll a' hae heard tell, &c.