Bonnie Jean.
Song.
A kennan yont the Lowther Hills,
In a miner’s cot sae trig an’ clean,
A lass was born in sixty-twa,
The gossips ca’ed her Bonnie Jean.
She was her mither’s pride an’ joy,
An angel in her faither’s een;
O! ne’er was lass in a’ the glen
That could compare wi’ Bonnie Jean.
REFRAIN.
Then here’s tae the lass there’s nane can surpass,
An’ may a’ that’s guid befa’ her.
Aye foremaist in the merry ploy
‘Mang lads an’ lassies on the green;
Tae sing an’ dance an’ play the game,
Nane blither there than Bonnie Jean.
I’ve heard the lintie sing his sang,
An’ mony fairy dawns I’ve seen,
But naething could the fancy stir
Or touch ma hert like Bonnie Jean.
REFRAIN.
Yae nicht aneath the mune’s pure licht
That bathed the moor in silvery sheen
I spiered her gin her hert was mine;
“It’s yours for aye,” quo’ Bonnie Jean.
The years rolled owre oor heids since then
Hae mony joys an’ sorrows gi’en,
But still I share them, yin an’ a’,
Wi’ my leal-hearted Bonnie Jean.
BETTY O’ THE STRANKLY.1
Song.
I’ve been in London and Paree,2
I’ve seen the beauties owre the sea,
But nane o’ them could please ma e’e
Like Betty o’ the Strankly.
REFRAIN.
O’ a’ the lassies I hae seen,
This I’ll say fu’ frankly,
There ne’er was yin amang them a’
Like Betty o’ the Strankly.
O’ Nature’s charms she has full share,
Besides her virtues are so rare
That she wi’ angels micht compare,
Blithe Betty o’ the Strankly.
REFRAIN.
Oh! gin I were a worthy swain
I’d strive an’ work an’ siller hain
Tae win her hert and mak’ a hame
For Betty o’ the Strankly.
REFRAIN.
Tae comfort her owre life’s short span,
O, may she wed a leal guidman;
For kindly hert an’ open han’
Has Betty o’ the Strankly.
REFRAIN.
Notes
1 Strancleugh.
2 Paris.