MALLY AIKEN, AN OLD SONG REVIVED. Air.-Gaelic. 'O LISTEN! listen and I'll tell ye* Erin O s'dhu ma roon. I coft you silken garters, Mally, Erin O s'dhu ma roon. Yon auld man came wi' wyles sae bonie, * This verse is all the author ever heard of the original.-The meaning of the Gaelic chorus is, O Mally Aiken, thou art my love. He gae up tocher to your daddy ;— And chang'd true luve for-high degree! Erin O s'dhu ma roon. He's ta'en you hame; he's made you gawdie, But you had better ta'en your laddie, You may gang to kirk and fair, my Mally; ilka te, But happiness you'll ne'er see, Mally, For breaking o' your vows to me! Erin O Mally Aiken, Erin O s'dhu ma roon. TO GET A MAN. Tats warld is a lottery, as ilk ane may ken; Though black, I'm comely; my een's like a slae ! Odd! I'm sure they're far better that een that are grey? Yet the lads they court Katey as fast as they can, While my father aye tells me-I'll ne'er get a man. I'm held down wi' wark frae morning till e’en, For fairs and for preachings I hae but ae gown! (Lord! I wish I was busk'd like our queans in the town!) Yet whane'er I stay late-how my father he'll ban, Wi' a- Divil confound ye! ye'll ne'er get a man!' My mither aye thinks I'm to sit still and spin: Whan the sogers gae by, war I fell'd I maun rin, Then she roars, and she flytes (though the sam's done by Kate) Wi' a- Sorrows be on ye! ye'll gang a grey gate!' I fain wad hae Jamie- -but then he loes Jean; And I'd e'en tak lean Patie, tho' just skin and bane; But my faither and mither tauld baith him and Dan That I'm three years owre young yet to hae a gudeman! A usage sae barb'rous! nae mortal can bear! -Odd! they'll drive me to madness wi' perfect despair! If I canna get Jamie, nor yet Dan nor Pate, Faith I'll e'en tak the first chiel that comes in my gate. Gle'yd Sawnie, that haiv'rel, he met me yestreen, He roos'd first my black hair, and syne my black een! While he dawted and kiss'd, tho' I ken he's a fool, Lord! I thought that my heart wad hae loupt out o' hool! Quo he, 'Bonny Maggy, gin ye war mine ain, 1 dinda like Sawnie-he's blind o' an ee; But then he's the first's talk'd o' marriage to me; And whan folk are ill us'd they maun do what they can, Sae I'll make them a' liars, and tak a gudeman. LASSIE WI' THE GOWDEN HAIR. Air.-Gaelic. 'LASSIE Wi' the gowden hair, Silken snood, and face sae fair: Lassie wi' the yellow hair, Think nae to deceive me! Lassie wi' the gowden hair, Johnie will believe ye! O no! Mary bawn, Mary bawn, Mary bawn,* * Bawn, (Gaelic) fair, white, generally applied to the hair. Smiling, twice ye made me troo; Twice, fause maid! ye brak your vow, Thrice ye'll ne'er deceive me! No! no! Mary bawn, Mary bawn, Mary bawn! Mary saw him turn to part; Deep his words sank in her heart; Soon the tears began to start, Luve cou'd ne'er deceive ye! * O no! Johnie dow, Johnie dow, Johnie dow, Johnie took a parting keek, Saw the tears hap owre her cheek! Johnie took anither keek Beauty's rose has left her cheek! Pale she stands, and canna speak. This is nae beguiling. O no! Mary bawn, Mary bawn, dear Mary bawn, No, no! Mary bawn-Luve has nae beguiling. * Dow, (Gaelic) black, generally applied to the hair. VOL. XXXIX. I i |