Down the Burn Davie, p.49.

[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]

WHEN trees did bud, and fields were green, 

And broom bloom’d fair to see; 

When Mary was compleat fifteen, 

And love laugh’d in her eye; 

Blyth Davy’s blinks her heart did move 

To speak her mind thus free, 

Gang down the burn, Davie, love

And I shall follow thee

– 

Now Davie did each lad surpass, 

That dwelt on this burnside, 

And Mary was the bonniest lass, 

Just meet to be a bride; 

Her Cheeks were rosie, red and white, 

Her een were bonny blue; 

Her looks were like Aurora bright, 

Her lips like dropping dew. 

– 

As down the burn they took their way, 

What tender tales they said! 

His cheek to hers he aft did lay, 

And with her bosom play’d; 

Till baith at length impatient grown, 

To be mair fully blest, 

In yonder vale they lean’d them down; 

Love only saw the rest. 

– 

What pass’d, I guess, was harmless play, 

And naething sure unmeet, 

For, ganging hame, I heard them say, 

They lik’d a wa’k sae sweet; 

And that they aften shou’d return 

Sic pleasure to renew. 

Quoth Mary, love, I like the burn, 

And ay shall follow you. 

New Words by Different Hands

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