She’ll wander
by the aiken tree,
When trystin time draws
near again;
And when her lovely
form I see,
O haith! she’s
doubly dear again.
I’ll aye ca’
in, &c.
O Wat Ye Wha’s In Yon Town
Tune—“I’ll gang nae mair to yon toun.”
Chorus—O
wat ye wha’s in yon town,
Ye see the e’enin
sun upon,
The dearest maid’s
in yon town,
That e’ening sun
is shining on.
Now haply down yon gay
green shaw,
She wanders by yon spreading
tree;
How blest ye flowers
that round her blaw,
Ye catch the glances
o’ her e’e!
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
How blest ye birds that
round her sing,
And welcome in the blooming
year;
And doubly welcome be
the Spring,
The season to my Jeanie
dear.
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
The sun blinks blythe
on yon town,
Among the broomy braes
sae green;
But my delight in yon
town,
And dearest pleasure,
is my Jean.
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
Without my Fair, not
a’ the charms
O’ Paradise could
yield me joy;
But give me Jeanie in
my arms
And welcome Lapland’s
dreary sky!
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
My cave wad be a lover’s
bower,
Tho’ raging Winter
rent the air;
And she a lovely little
flower,
That I wad tent and
shelter there.
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
O sweet is she in yon
town,
The sinkin, sun’s
gane down upon;
A fairer than’s
in yon town,
His setting beam ne’er
shone upon.
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
If angry Fate is sworn
my foe,
And suff’ring
I am doom’d to bear;
I careless quit aught
else below,
But spare, O spare me
Jeanie dear.
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
For while life’s
dearest blood is warm,
Ae thought frae her
shall ne’er depart,
And she, as fairest
is her form,
She has the truest,
kindest heart.
O wat ye wha’s,
&c.
Ballads on Mr. Heron’s Election, 1795
Ballad First
Whom will you send to
London town,
To Parliament and a’
that?
Or wha in a’ the
country round
The best deserves to
fa’ that?
For a’ that, and
a’ that,
Thro’ Galloway
and a’ that,
Where is the Laird or
belted Knight
The best deserves to
fa’ that?
Wha sees Kerroughtree’s
open yett,
(And wha is’t
never saw that?)
Wha ever wi’ Kerroughtree
met,
And has a doubt of a’
that?
For a’ that, and
a’ that,
Here’s Heron yet
for a’ that!
The independent patriot,
The honest man, and
a’ that.