The Canary/Och hey, Johnny Lad

by Robert Tannahill

For other versions of this work, see Och hey, Johnny Lad.

Och hey, Johnny Lad.

Och hey, Johnny lad,
⟨Ye're⟩ no sae kind's ye should a been;
⟨Och⟩ hey, Johnny lad!
⟨Ye⟩ didna' keep your tryst yestreen,
⟨I⟩ waited lang beside the wood,
⟨Sae⟩ wae an' weary a' my lane;
⟨Och⟩ hey, Johnny lad!
⟨It⟩ was a waefu' night yestreen.

I looked by the whinny knowe,
I looked by the firs sae green,
I looked o'er the spunkie howe,
And aye I thought ye wad ha'e been:
The ne'er a supper crost my craig,
The ne'er a sleep has clos'd my een,
Och hey, Johnny lad,
Ye're no sae kind's ye soud a been.

"Gin ye war waitin' by the wood,
Its I was waitin' by the thorn,
I thought it was the place we set,
An' waited maist till dawning morn;
But be na' vext, my bonny lass,
Let my waiting stan' for thine:
We'll awa' to Birkton shaw,
An' seek the joys we tint yestreen.