song—tam glen

  my heart is a-breaking, dear tittie,

  some counsel unto me come len',

  to anger them a' is a pity,

  but what will i do wi' tam glen?

  i'm thinking, wi' sic a braw fellow,

  in poortith i might mak a fen;

  what care i in riches to wallow,

  if i maunna marry tam glen!

  there's lowrie the laird o' dumeller—

  “gude day to you, brute!” he comes ben:

  he brags and he blaws o' his siller,

  but when will he dance like tam glen!

  my minnie does constantly deave me,

  and bids me beware o' young men;

  they flatter, she says, to deceive me,

  but wha can think sae o' tam glen!

  my daddie says, gin i'll forsake him,

  he'd gie me gude hunder marks ten;

  but, if it's ordain'd i maun take him,

  o wha will i get but tam glen!

  yestreen at the valentine's dealing,

  my heart to my mou' gied a sten';

  for thrice i drew ane without failing,

  and thrice it was written “tam glen”!

  the last halloween i was waukin

  my droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken,

  his likeness came up the house staukin,

  and the very grey breeks o' tam glen!

  come, counsel, dear tittie, don't tarry;

  i'll gie ye my bonie black hen,

  gif ye will advise me to marry

  the lad i lo'e dearly, tam glen.