The Book of Scottish Song/O, wat ye wha's
O, wat ye wha's.
[This is another composition of Burns's, to the tune "I'll gang nae mair to yon toun." It appears, along with the above, in Johnson's Museum. "Jean" was the original heroine of the song, but Burns afterwards altered the name to "Lucy," in honour of the lady of R. A. Oswald, Esq. of Auchincruive, Ayrshire, who fell a victim to consumption in 1798, when only about thirty years of age. Her maiden name was Lucy Johnston.]
O, wat ye wha's in yon toun,
Ye see the e'ening sun upon?
The fairest maid's in yon toun,
That e'ening sun is shining on.
Now haply down yon gay green shaw,
She wanders by yon spreading tree;
How blest, ye flow'rs, that round her blaw!
Ye catch the glances o' her e'e.
How blest, ye birds, that round her sing,
And welcome in the blooming year!
And doubly welcome be the spring,
The season to my Jeanie dear!
The sun blinks blythe on yon toun,
Amang yon broomy braes sae green:
But my delight, in yon toun,
And dearest pleasure, is my Jean.
Without my love, not a' the charms
Of Paradise could yield me joy;
But gi'e me Jeanie in my arms,
And welcome Lapland's drearie sky.
My cave wad be a lover's bower,
Though raging winter rent the air;
And she a lovely little flower,
That I wad tent and shelter there.
O sweet is she in yon toun,
The sinking sun's gane dwn upon;
The dearest maid's in yon toun,
His setting beam e'er shone upon.
If angry fate be sworn my foe,
And suffering I am doom'd to bear,
I'll careless quit aught else below;
But spare, oh! spare me Jeanie dear.
For, while life's dearest blood runs warm,
My thoughts frae her shall ne'er depart.
For, as most lovely is her form,
She has the truest, kindest heart.