Sae droops our heart when we maun part Her smile's a gift, frae 'boon the lift, The man in arms, 'gainst female charms, He hugs his chain, and owns the reign My muse to dream of such a theme, THE WEARY PUND O' TOW. Tune-"The weary Pund o' Tow." ["This song," says Sir Harris Nicolas, "is in the Musical Museum; but it is not attri buted to Burns. Mr. Allan Cunningham does not state upon what authority he has assigned it to Burns." The critical knight might have, if he had pleased, stated similar objections to many songs which he took without scruple from my edition, where they were claimed for Burns, for the first time, and on good authority. I, however, as it happens, did not claim the song wholly for the poet: I said "the idea of the song is old, and perhaps some of the words." It was sent by Burns to the Museum, and in his own hand. writing.] THE weary pund, the weary pund, The weary pund o' tow: I think my wife will end her life Before she spin her tow. I bought my wife a stane o' lint As gude as e'er did grow; There sat a bottle in a bole, Beyont the ingle low, And ay she took the tither souk, She took the rock, and wi' a knock At last her feet-I sang to see't- I'll wallop in a tow. The weary pund, the weary pund, I think my wife will end her life NAEBODY. Tune-"Naebody." [Burns had built his house at Ellisland, sowed his first crop, the woman he loved was at his side, and hope was high; no wonder that he indulged in this independent strain.] I HAE a wife o' my ain— I'll partake wi' naebody; I'll gie cuckold to naebody. I am naebody's lord I'll be slave to naebody; I hae a guid braid sword, I'll tak dunts frae naebody. I'll be merry and free, I'll be sad for naebody; Naebody cares for me, O, FOR ANE-AND-TWENTY, TAM! Tune-"The Moudiewort." [In his memoranda on this song in the Museum, Burns says simply, "This song is mine." The air for a century before had to bear the burthen of very ordinary words.] CHORUS. An O, for ane-and-twenty, Tam, An' hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tam, An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam. THEY snool me sair, and haud me down, A gleib o' lan', a claut o' gear, They'll hae me wed a wealthy coof, An O, for ane-and-twenty, Tam! An hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tam! I'll learn my kin a rattlin' sang, An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam. O KENMURE'S ON AND AWA. Tune-"O Kenmure's on and awa, Willie." [The second and third, and concluding verses of this Jacobite strain, were written by Burns: the whole was sent in his own handwriting to the Museum.] O KENMURE'S on and awa, Willie ! O Kenmure's on and awa! And Kenmure's lord's the bravest lord, Success to Kenmure's band, Willie ! That rides by Kenmure's hand. Here's Kenmure's health in wine, Willie! There ne'er was a coward o' Kenmure's blude, O Kenmure's lads are men, Willie ! Their hearts and swords are metal true- They'll live or die wi' fame, Willie ! But soon wi' sounding victorie, May Kenmure's lord come hame. Here's him that's far awa, Willie ! And here's the flower that I love best- MY COLLIER LADDIE. Tune-"The Collier Laddie." [The Collier Laddie was communicated by Burns, and in his handwriting, to the Mu seum: it is chiefly his own composition, though coloured by an older strain.] WHERE live ye, my bonnie lass? An' tell me what they ca' ye; My name, she says, is Mistress Jean, And I follow the Collier Laddie. See you not yon hills and dales, They a' are mine, and they shall be thine, Ye shall gang in gay attire, Gin ye'll leave your Collier Laddie. Tho' ye had a' the sun shines on, And the earth conceals sae lowly; I can win my five pennies a day, And spen't at night fu' brawlie; Luve for luve is the bargain for me, Tho' the wee cot-house should haud me; NITHSDALE'S WELCOME HAME. [These verses were written by Burns for the Museum: the Maxwells of Terreagles are the lineal descendants of the Earls of Nithsdale.] And they'll gae bigg Terreagle's towers, |