Scottish Comic Songs,
Supposed to be Hitherto Unpublished.
No. I.
The Lass’s Wardrobe.
[The whimsicality of this song will probably be enhanced by the
consideration that it was written by an old unmarried lady, as a
kind of burlesque of her own habits and history, and is frequently
sung by herself with great glee. It has a peculiar air, resembling
that of the well-known song entitled “ The Laird of Cockpen.”]
consideration that it was written by an old unmarried lady, as a
kind of burlesque of her own habits and history, and is frequently
sung by herself with great glee. It has a peculiar air, resembling
that of the well-known song entitled “ The Laird of Cockpen.”]
A lass lived down by yon burn-braes,1
And she was weel provided wi’claes ;2
She had three mutches,* a’ but twa,3
And nae bonny lad wad tak her awa.4
Tak her awa, tak her awa5
Nae bonny lad wad tak her awa ;6
She had three mutches, a’ but twa,7
And nae bonny lad wad tak her awa.8
She had a gown, it was just at the making,9
It wanted the forebreadth, it wanted the backing
;10
It wanted the sleeves, the lining and a’,11
And nae bonny lad wad tak her awa.12
Tak her awa, &c.13
She had twa stockings, they were at the knitting,14
They wanted the legs, they wanted the fitting
;15
They wanted the heids, the heels, and a’16
And nae bonny lad wad tak her awa.17
Tak her awa, &c.18
She had a shawl, it was just like a riddle,19
It wadna been the waur o’ the threid and the needle ;20
For the middle was holed, and the border awa,21
And nae bonny lad wad tak her awa.22
Tak her awa, &c.23
She had a pouch to haud her siller,24
Wi’ it she thoct to catch the miller ;25
But she tint† the pouch, the siller, and a’,26
And nae bonny lad wad tak her awa.27
Tak her awa, &c.28
She had a kist to haud her claes,29
It might hae ser’d her a’ her days ;30
But, like a gowk, she gied it awa,31
And nae bonny lad wad tak her awa.32
Tak her awa, &c.33
Sae now she lives in a wee bit garret,34
Without ae friend but a cat and a parrot ;35
For her father is dead, and her mither, and a’,36
And nae bonny lad has ta’en her awa.37
Ta’en her awa, &c.38
And what can she do but live her lane,39
Sin’ a’ her hopes o’ marriage are gane ;40
For she’s auld, she’s bald, she’s wrinkled, and a’,41
And nae bonny lad will tak her awa.42
Tak her awa, &c.43
Now listen, fair damsels, to my lays,44
Ye wha are vain about your claes ;45
For if ye’re no guid as weel as braw,46
O nae bonny lad will tak ye awa.47
Tak ye awa, tak ye awa48
Nae bonny lad will tak ye awa ;49
If ye’re no guid as weel as braw,50
O nae bonny lad will tak ye awa.51
* Caps.
† Lost.