My Collier Laddie
“Whare live ye, my bonie lass?
And tell me what they ca’ ye;”
“My name,” she says, “is mistress Jean,
And I follow the Collier laddie.”
“My name, she says, &c.
“See you not yon hills and dales
The sun shines on sae brawlie;
They a’ are mine, and they shall be thine,
Gin ye’ll leave your Collier laddie.”
“They a’ are mine, &c.
“Ye shall gang in gay attire,
Weel buskit up sae gaudy;
And ane to wait on every hand,
Gin ye’ll leave your Collier laddie.”
“And ane to wait, &c.
“Tho’ ye had a’ the sun shines on,
And the earth conceals sae lowly,
I wad turn my back on you and it a’,
And embrace my Collier laddie.”
“I wad turn my back, &c.
“I can win my five pennies in a day,
An’ spen’t at night fu’ brawlie:
And make my bed in the collier’s neuk,
And lie down wi’ my Collier laddie.”
“And make my bed, &c.
“Love for love is the bargain for me,
Tho’ the wee cot-house should haud me;
and the warld before me to win my bread,
And fair fa’ my Collier laddie!”
“And the warld before me, &c.