SONGS. HANDSOME NELL. TUNE-I am a man unmarried. Oн once I loved a bonnie lass, Ay, and I love her still; And whilst that honour warms my breast, I'll love my handsome Nell. yes Is pleasant to the ee, But without some better qualities, She's no the lass for me. But Nelly's looks are blithe and sweet, And, what is best of a', Her reputation is complete, And fair without a flaw. She dresses aye sae clean and neat, Both decent and genteel: And then there's something in her gait A gaudy dress and gentle air 'Tis this in Nelly pleases me, eye 80 makes any I DREAMED I LAY. I DREAMED I lay where flowers were springing Listening to the wild birds singing, By a falling, crystal stream: Straight the sky grew black and daring; Such was my life's deceitful morning, But lang or noon, loud tempests storming, She promised fair, and performed but ill; Of mony a joy and hope bereaved me, troubled long ere many MY NANIE, O. TUNE-My Nanie, O. BEHIND yon hills where Lugar flows, The westlin wind blaws loud and shill; The night's baith mirk and rainy, O; But I'll get my plaid, and out I'll steal, And owre the hills to Nanie, O. 0: among away westerly, blows, shrill both dark My Nanie's charming, sweet, and young; That wad beguile my Nanie, O! Her face is fair, her heart is true, A country lad is my degree, And few there be that ken me, O; My riches a's my penny-fee, My thoughts are a'-my Nanie, O. over no would daisy know all is, wages must, carefully world's wealth I doubt na, lass, but ye may think, But sorrow tak him that's sae mean, That looks sae proud and high. Although a lad were e'er sae smart, But if he hae the name o' gear, last night spoke, went, dust mock Though hardly he, for sense or lear, learning COWS Be better than the kye. But, Tibbie, lass, tak my advice, Your daddie's gear maks vou sae nice, There lives a lass in yonder park, father's one, ask For thee, wi' a' thy thousan' mark; give, shift ON CESSNOCK BANKS. ON Cessnock Banks there lives a lass; That grows the cowslip braes between, And she's twa glancing sparkling een. That shades the mountain-side at e'en, When flower-reviving rains are past; And she's twa glancing sparkling een. Her forehead's like the showery bow, When shining sunbeams intervene, And gild the distant mountain's brow; And she's twa glancing sparkling een. Her voice is like the evening thrush That sings in Cessnock Banks unseen, While his mate sits nestling in the bush; And she's twa glancing sparkling een. Her lips are like the cherries ripe That sunny walls from Boreas screen- Her teeth are like a flock of sheep, well-favoured eyes two hillocks Her cheeks are like yon crimson gem, And she's twa sparkling rogueish een. MY FATHER WAS A FARMER. TUNE-The Weaver and his Shuttle, O. My father was a farmer upon the Carrick border, O, He bade me act a manly part, though I had ne'er a farthing, O; For without an honest manly heart no man was worth regarding, O. Then out into the world my course I did determine, O; Though to be rich was not my wish, yet to be great was charming, 0: My talents they were not the worst, nor yet my education, O; Resolved was I, at least to try, to mend my situation, O. In many a way, and vain essay, 1 courted Fortune's favour, O; Some cause unseen still stept between, to frustrate each endeavour, O. Sometimes by foes I was o'erpowered, sometimes by friends forsaken, O; And when my hope was at the top, I still was worst mistaken, O. Then sore harassed, and tired at last, with Fortune's vain delusion, O, I dropt my schemes, like idle dreams, and came to this conclusion, O The past was bad, and the future hid-its good or ill untried, O; But the present hour was in my power, and so I would enjoy it, O. No help, nor hope, nor view had I, nor person to befriend me, O; So I must toil, and sweat, and broil, and labour to sustain me, O; To plough and sow, to reap, and mow, my father bred me early, O; For one, he said, to labour bred, was a match for Fortune fairly, O. Thus all obscure, unknown, and poor, through life I'm doomed to wander, O, Till down my weary bones I lay, in everlasting slumber, O. No view nor care, but shun whate'er might breed me pain or sorrow, O! I live to-day as well's I may, regardless of to-morrow, O. But cheerful still I am as well as a monarch in a palace, O, Though Fortune's frown still haunts me down with all her wonted malice, 0: |