The Book of Scottish Song/The bud on the brier

The bud on the brier.

[Tune, "The Campbells are comin'."]

The bud on the brier it is bonnie enough,
⁠An' sae is the flower on the ha', lass:
How sweet shines the red setting sun in the stream,
⁠But thou art the sweetest of a', lass.
⁠The laverock on the lea, lass,
⁠The lintie on the tree, lass,
⁠The mavis aft renews her sang,
⁠But nane o" them sings like thee, lass.

The meeting o' friends may be happy, I own,
⁠An' blinks o' content gi'e us a', lass;
But rapture ne'er comes frae the e'e to the heait,
⁠Save only when love gi'es the law, lass.
⁠The bottle has its charms, lass,
⁠Which toil and care disarm, lass,
⁠But lasting pleasure ne'er is found,
⁠Till love the bosom warm, lass.

In conqu'ring kingdoms let tyrants unite,
⁠An' patriots fight to be free, lass;
But conqu'ring canna gi'e them the delight,
⁠I ha'e being conquer'd by thee, lass.
⁠For freedom's but a name, lass,
⁠And slavery's just the same, lass,
⁠I'll wear thy chain wi' a' my heart,
⁠Gif ye will be my ain, lass.

The love-melting kiss that I steal frae thy. lips,
⁠Will keep me aye constant and true, lass,
An' ilk coming day be mair blest than the past,
⁠An' ilka endearment renew, lass.
⁠Then time may flee like wind, lass,
⁠Its loss we ne'er shall find, lass;
⁠The rose that fades upon thy cheek,
⁠Will flourish in thy mind, lass.

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