My Collier Laddie

  my collier laddie
  “whare live ye, my bonie lass?
  and tell me what they ca' ye;”
  “my name,” she says, “is mistress jean,
  and i follow the collier laddie.”
  “my name, she says, c.
  “see you not yon hills and dales
  the sun shines on sae brawlie;
  they a' are mine, and they shall be thine,
  gin ye'll leave your collier laddie.
  “they a' are mine, c.
  “ye shall gang in gay attire,
  weel buskit up sae gaudy;
  and ane to wait on every hand,
  gin ye'll leave your collier laddie.”
  “and ane to wait, c.
  “tho' ye had a' the sun shines on,
  and the earth conceals sae lowly,
  i wad turn my back on you and it a',
  and embrace my collier laddie.
  “i wad turn my back, c.
  “i can win my five pennies in a day,
  an' spen't at night fu' brawlie:
  and make my bed in the collier's neuk,
  and lie down wi' my collier laddie.
  “and make my bed, c.
  “love for love is the bargain for me,
  tho' the wee cot-house should haud me;
  and the warld before me to win my bread,
  and fair fa' my collier laddie!”
  “and the warld before me, c.