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‹Better GutenbergEnglish Songs and BalladsWoo’d, and Married, and a’. Alexander Ross · 120 of 275Contents›

English Songs and Ballads

by T. W. H. Crosland

120 of 275 · Contents · Download EPUB

Woo’d, and Married, and a’. Alexander Ross

The bride cam’ out o’ the byre,
 And, oh, as she dighted her cheeks:
‘Sirs, I’m to be married the night,
 And have neither blankets nor sheets;
Have neither blankets nor sheets,
 Nor scarce a coverlet too;
The bride that has a’ thing to borrow,
 Has e’en right muckle ado.’
  Woo’d, and married, and a’,
   Married, and woo’d, and a’!
  And was she nae very weel off,
   That was woo’d, and married, and a’?

Out spake the bride’s father,
 As he cam’ in frae the pleugh:
‘Oh, haud your tongue, my dochter,
 And ye’se get gear eneugh;
The stirk stands i’ the tether,
 And our braw bawsint yaud,
Will carry ye hame your corn—
 What wad ye be at, ye jaud?’

Out spake the bride’s mither:
 ‘What deil needs a’ this pride?
I hadna a plack in my pouch
 That night I was a bride;
My gown was linsey-woolsey,
 And ne’er a sark ava;
And ye hae ribbons and buskins,
 Mae than ane or twa.’

Out spake the bride’s brither,
 As he cam’ in wi’ the kye:
‘Poor Willie wad ne’er hae ta’en ye,
 Had he kent ye as weel as I;
For ye’re baith proud and saucy,
 And no for a poor man’s wife;
Gin I canna get a better,
 I’se ne’er tak ane i’ my life.’

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