Auld Robin Gray.

page 5

[My father couldna work—my mither couldna spin;
I toil'd day aid night, but their bread I couldna win;
Auld Rob maintain'd them baith, and, wi' tears in his e'¹
Said "Jenny, for their sakes, will you no' marry me?"
My heart it said na, for I look'd for Jamie back;
But the wind it blew high, and the ship it was a wrack;
The ship it was a wrack! Why diana Jenny dee?
Oh why do I live to say, O wae's me!]

My father urged me sair—my mither didna speak,
But she look'd in my face till my heart was like to break!
They gied him my hand, but my heart was at the sea;
And auld Robin Gray is gudeman to me.
I hadna been a wife a week but only four,
When sittin' sae mournfully at my ain door,
I saw my Jamie's ghaut—I couldna think it he,
Till he said, "I'm some hame, my love, to marry thee;"

O sair, sair did we greet, and mickle did we say;
We took but ae kiss, and then tore ourselves away.
I wish that I were dead, but I'm no like to dee;
Oh why do I live to say, O wae's me!
I gang like a ghaist, and I carena to spin;
I darena think o' Jamie, for that wad be a sin
But I will do my best a gude wife aye to be,
For auld Robin Gray, he is gudeman to me.