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The Book of Scottish Song/Birks of Aberfeldy

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2269577The Book of Scottish Song — Birks of AberfeldyAlexander WhitelawRobert Burns (1759-1796)

Birks of Aberfeldy.

[This was composed by Burns, to the old tune of "The Birks of Abergeldy," in September, 1787, while standing under the falls of Aberfeldy, near Moness, in Perthshire.]

Bonnie lassie, will ye go,
Will ye go, will ye go,
Bonnie lassie, will ye go
To the birks of Aberfeldy?

Now simmer blinks on flowery braes,
And o'er the crystal streamlet plays;
Come let us spend the lichtsome days
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonnie lassie, &c.

While o'er their head the hazels hing,
The little burdies blythely sing,
Or lichtly flit on wanton wing,
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonnie lassie, &c.

The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foamin' stream deep-roaring fa's,
O'erhung wi' fragrant spreadin' shaws,
The birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonnie lassie, &c.

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flow'rs,
White ower the linn the burnie pours,
And, risin', weets wi' misty show'rs
The birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonnie lassie, &c.

Let fortune's gift at random flee,
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me,
Supremely bless'd wi' love and thee,
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonnie lassie, &c.