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The Book of Scottish Song/I'm ower young

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2263145The Book of Scottish Song — I'm ower young1843Alexander Whitelaw

I'm ower young.

[This is an old song, dressed up a little by Burns for Johnson's Museum. "The tune," says Mr. Stenhouse, "is evidently the progenitor of that fine modern strathspey, called 'Loch Erroch Side.'"]

I am my mammy's ae bairn,
Wi' unco folk I weary, sir;
And lying in a man's bed,
I'm fley'd wad mak' me eerie, sir.
I'm o'er young to marry yet;
I'm o'er young to marry yet;
I'm o'er young—'twad be a sin
To tak' me frae my mammy yet.

My mammy coft me a new gown,
The kirk maun ha'e the gracing o't;
Were I to lie wi' you, kind sir,
I'm fear'd ye'd spoil the lacing o't.

Hallowmas is come and gane,
The nights are lang in winter, sir;
An' you an' I, in ae bed,
In trouth I dare na venture, sir.

Fu' loud and shrill the frosty wind,
Blaws thro' the leafless timmer, sir,
But if ye come this gate again,
I'll aulder be gin simmer, sir.
I'm o'er young to marry yet;
I'm o'er young to marry yet;
I'm o'er young—'twad be a sin
To tak' me frae my mammy yet.