Waes me for Prince Charly/Waes Me For Prince Charly

WAES ME FOR PRINCE CHARLY.

A wee bird came to our ha' door,
⁠He warbled sweet and clearly,
An' aye the o'ercome o' his sang
⁠Was "Waes me for prince Charly!"
O! whan I heard the bonny soun',
⁠The tears cam happin rarely;
I took my bannet aff my head,
⁠For weel I loed prince Charly.

Quoth 1.'My bird my bonny, bonny bird,
⁠Is that a sang ye borrow?
Are these some words ye've learnt by heart,
⁠Or a lilt o' dool ar' sorrow?"
"Oh! no, no, no," the wee bird sang,
⁠"I've flown sin' mornin' early;
But sic a day o' wind and rain—
⁠Oh! waes me for prince Charley.

"On hills that are by right his ain,
⁠He roves a lonely stranger;
On every side he's prest by want,
⁠On every side is danger.
"Yestreen I met him in the glen,
⁠My heart maist burstit fairly;
For sadly changed indeed was he—
⁠Oh! waes me for prince Charly.

"Dark night cam on, the tempest roar'd,
⁠Loud o'er the hills and valleys,
⟨An'⟩ whar was't that your prince lay down,
⁠Wha's hame should been a palace?
He row'd him in a highland plaid,
⁠Which cover'd him but sparely,
⟨An'⟩ slept beneath a bush o' broom—
⁠Oh I waes me for prince Charly."

But now the bird saw some red coat,
⁠An' he shook his wings wi' anger—
"Oh! this is no a land for me,
⁠I'll tarry here nae langer."
He hover'd on the wing a while,
⁠Ere he departed fairly;
⟨But⟩ weel I mind the fareweel strain
⁠Was, "Waes me for prince Charly."

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