The Book of Scottish Song/Through the wood, laddie

Through the wood, laddie.

[The original verses, or at least what are supposed to be the oldest verses, to the favourite old air called "Through the wood, laddie," are very long, and not worth quoting. They begin thus:

"As Philermon and Phillis together did walk,
To the woods they did wander,
To the woods they did wander,
As Philermon and Phillis together did walk,
To the woods they did wander,
Together did talk!"

Ramsay wrote two sets of verses to the tune. The first is, like the above, very long, but much superior to it as a piece of composition. It begins,

"As early I walk'd on the first of sweet May,
Beneath a steep mountain,
Beside a clear fountain,
I heard a grave lute soft melody play,
While the echo resounded the dolorous lay."

We content ourselves with quoting here Ramsay's second song to the tune, which still retains a place in the collections.]

O, Sandy, why leave thus thy Nelly to mourn?
Thy presence could ease me,
When naething can please me;
Now dowie I sigh on the bank o' the burn,
Or through the wood, laddie, until thou return.

Though woods now are bonnie, and mornings are clear,
While lav'rocks are singing,
And primroses springing;
Yet nane o' them pleases my eye or my ear,
When through the wood, laddie, ye dinna appear.

That I am forsaken, some spare not to tell;
I'm fash'd wi' their scornin'
Baith e'enin' and mornin';
Their jeering gaes aft to my heart wi' a knell,
When through the wood, laddie, I wander mysel'.

Then stay, my dear Sandy, nae langer away;
But, quick as an arrow,
Haste here to t'ny marrow,
Wha's living in languor till that happy day.
When through the wood, laddie, thegither we'll gae.

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