The Book of Scottish Song/Lass gin ye lo'e me

Lass gin ye lo’e me.

[In Herd's collection the following fragment is preserved:

I ha'e layen three herring a-sa't;
⁠Bonnie lass, gin ze'll tak' me, tell me now,
And I ha'e brew'n three pickles o' ma't,
⁠And I canna cum ilka day to woo,
⁠To woo, to woo, to lilt and to woo,
⁠And I canna cum ilka day to woo.

I ha'e a wee calf that wad fain be a cow;
⁠Bonnie lass, gin ze'll tak' me, tell me now;
I ha'e a grice that wad fain be a sow,
⁠And I canna cum ilka day to woo.
⁠To woo, to woo, &c.

From this fragment, James Tytler, otherwise called Balloon Tytler, of whom we have spoken in previous notes, constructed the following song, which, with its lively air, is given in the third volume of Johnson's Museum. Mr. Mackay, cf the Edinburgh theatre, used to sing the song with pawkie glee, and was instrumental in rendering it popular.]

I ha'e laid a herring in saut,
Lass gin ye lo'e me tell me now
1 ha'e brew'd a forpet o' maut,
An' I canna come ilka day to woo.
I ha'e a calf will soon be a cow,
Lass gin ye lo'e me tell me now!
I ha'e a pig will soon be a sow,
An' I canna come ilka day to woo.

I've a house on yonder muir,
Lass gin ye lo'e me tell me now!
Three sparrows may dance upon the floor,
An' I canna come ilka day to woo.
I ha'e a but, an' I ha'e a ben,
Lass gin ye lo'e me tell me now!
I ha'e three chickens an' a fat hen,
An' I canna come ony mair to woo.

I've a hen wi' a happity leg,
Lass gin ye lo'e me tak' me now!
Which ilka day lays me an egg,
An' I canna come ilka day to woo.
I ha'e a kebbuck upon my shelf,
Lass gin ye lo'e me tak' me now!
I downa eat it a' myself;
An' I winna come ony mair to woo.

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