Tak Your Auld Cloak About Ye.
Words from Allan Ramsay’s Tea Table Miscellany.
Arranged by Finlay Dun.
–
In winter when the rain rain’d cauld,
And frost and snaw on ilka hill,
And Boreas wi’ his blast sae bauld,
Was threat’ning a’ our kye to kill;
Then Bell, my wife, wha lo’es na strife,
She said to me, right hastilie,
“Get up, gudeman, save Crummie’s life,
And tak your auld cloak about ye.”
–
“Our Crummie is a usefu’ cow,
And she is come of a good kin;
Aft has she wet the bairns’s mou,
And I am laith that she should tyne,
Get up, gudeman, it is fu’ time,
The sun shines in the lift sae hie,
Sloth never made a gracious end,
Gae tak your auld cloak about ye.”
–
“My cloak was ance a gude grey cloak,
When it was fitting for my wear;
But now it’s scantly worth a groat,
For I have worn’t this thretty year;
Let’s spend the gear that we hae won,
We little ken the day we’ll die;
Then I’ll be proud since I have sworn.
To hae a new cloak about me.”
–
“In days when gude King Robert rang,
His trews they cost but half a croun;
He thought they were a groat ower dear,
And ca’ed the tailor thief and loon;
He was a king that wore a crown,
And thou’rt a an o’ laigh degree;
It’s pride puts a’ the country doun,
Gae tak your auld cloak about ye.”
–
“Ilka land has its ain lauch,
And ilka corn has its ain hool,
I think the world is a gane wrang,
Sine ilka wife her man wad rule;
Do ye no see Rob, Jock, and Hab,
How they are girded gallantlie,
While I sit hurklin in the nook,
I’ll hae a new cloak about me.”
–
“Gudeman I way it’s thretty year
Sin’ we did ane anither ken;
An’ we hae had atween us twa,
Of lads and bonnie lassies ten;
Now they are women grown and men,
I wish and pray weel may they be;
And if you’d prove a gude husband,
E’en tak your auld cloak about ye.”
–
“Bell, my wife, she lo’es nae strife,
But she would guide me, if she can;
So to maintain an easy life,
I aft maun yield, though I’m gudeman;
Nochts to be won at woman’s hand,
Unless ye gie her a’ the plea;
Then I’ll leave aff where I began,
And tak my auld cloak about me.”