O, waly, waly up the bank, And waly, waly down the brae, And waly, waly yon burn-side, Where I and my love wont to gae! I leaned my back unto an aik, And thocht it was a trusty tree, But first it bow'd and syne it brak: Sae my true love did lichtlie me. O waly, waly but love be bonnie A little time while it is new, But when it's auld it waxes cauld And fades away like morning dew, O, wherefore should I busk my heid, Or wherefore should I kame my hair? For my true-love has me forsook, And says he'll never love me mair. |
Now Arthur's seat shall be my bed, The sheets shall ne'er be pressed by me, St. Anton's Well shall be my drink, Since my true-love has forsaken me. Martinmas wind, when wilt thou blaw, And shake the green leaves aff the tree? O gentle death when wilt thou come? For of my life I am wearie. 'Tis not the frost that freezes fell, Nor blawing snaw's inclemencie; 'Tis not sic cauld that mak's me cry, But my love's heart's grown cauld to me. When we came in by Glasgow toun, We were a comely sicht to see; My love was clad in the black velvet, And I mysel' in cramasie. |
But had I wist before I kiss't That love had been sae ill to win, I'd lock'd my heart in a case of gold, And pinn'd it wi' a siller pin. Oh, oh, if my young babe were born, And set upon the nurse's knee, And I mysel' were dead and gone, And the green grass growin' ower me! |