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The Book of Scottish Song/Birniebouzle

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For other versions of this work, see Braes of Birniebouzle.
2269548The Book of Scottish Song — BirniebouzleAlexander WhitelawJames Hogg

Birniebouzle.

[About twenty years ago, this was a popular street song. It was written by the Ettrick Shepherd to the tune of "Braes of Tullimet."]

Will ye gang wi' me, lassie,
To the braes o' Birniebouzle?
Baith the yird an' sea, lassie,
Will I rob to fend ye.
I'll hunt the otter an' the brock,
The hart, the hare, an' heather cock,
An' pu' the limpet aff the rock,
To batten an' to mend ye.

If ye'll gang wi' me lassie,
To the braes o' Birniebouzle,
Till the day you dee, lassie,
Want shall ne'er come near ye.
The peats I'll carry in a scull,
The cod an' ling wi' hooks I'll pull,
An' reave the eggs o' mony a gull,
To please my dainty dearie.

Sae canty will we be, lassie,
At the braes o' Birniebouzle,
Donald Gun and me, lassie,
Ever sail attend ye.
Though we ha'e nowther milk nor meal,
Nor lamb nor mutton, beef nor veal,
We'll fank the porpy and the seal,
And that's the way to fend ye.

An' ye sall gang sae braw, lassie,
At the kirk o' Birniebouzle,
Wi' littit brogues an' a', lassie,
Wow but ye'll be vaunty!
An' you sall wear, when you are wed,
The kirtle an' the Heeland plaid,
An' sleep upon a heather bed,
Sae cozy an' sae canty.

If ye'll but marry me, lassie,
At the kirk o' Birniebouzle,
A' my joy shall be, lassie,
Ever to content ye.
I'll bait the line and bear the pail,
An' row the boat and spread the sail,
An' drag the larry at my tail,
When mussel hives are plenty.

Then come awa' wi' me, lassie,
To the braes o' Birniebouzle;
Bonny lassie, dear lassie,
You shall ne'er repent ye.
For you shall own a bught o' ewes,
A brace o' gaits, and byre o' cows,
An' be the lady o' my house,
An' lads an' lasses plenty.