Cochrane’s Bonny Grizzy
Part I
Listen, now, both great and simple,
Whilst I croon to you my song,
Ere such another damsel ’pears,
The world will cease to wag ere long:
For she is the flower o’er all the bower,
My blessings on Cochrane’s Bonny Grizzy!
Her father lay long in the Embro jail,
Wearing fast to his end,
For his head must be swept clean from his shoulders,
When the warrant the King shall send;
Singing “Woes me!” wi’ the tear in her e’e,
Did Cochrane’s bonny daughter mourn!
She kissed her father’s lyart locks,
Unkempt for many a day,
And she said, “To save my father’s life,
I aiblins ken a way:
Give me thy love, that I fortune prove?”
Quo’ Cochrane’s bonny daughter!
She rode away thro’ the stragglling town,
Of beggart Hadingtown,
Syne by Dunbar, thro’ Coppersmith,
Till to Berwick she has come:
And she rapped right loud on the barred gates,
Did Cochrane’s bonny daughter!
She slept all night and she rose betimes,
And crossed the long bridge of the Tweed;
And over the moor at Tweedmouth brae,
Sore draggit was her woman’s weed;
And lightin’ down by Haggerston Shaws,
Did Cochrane’s Bonny Grizzy!
A cloak she drew from her saddlebag,
With trunks and a doublet fair;
She cut off with a folding knife,
Her long and raven hair;
And she dressed herself in laddie’s clothes,
Did Cochrane’s Bonny Grizzy!
The horseman rode into Belford town,
Who carried the London mail,
Bold Grizzy she sought the hostel out,
And there with a couthy tale,
Forgathered with the London Post,
Did Cochrane’s Bonny Grizzy!
She roared the loudest of them a’,
Quo’ the fellow, “My canty chiel,
Deil blaw my pipes! yere the crack o’ the wa’,
And the best amang the hail!”
In the dead of night did they go to their beds,
And so did Cochrane’s daughter!
She rose over the bed ere the second cock,
Went jimply along the floor;
She’s stown her father’s death warrant,
Whilst the lubber loud did snore.
She’s gained the hills ere the hue and cry
They raised on Cochrane’s daughter!