Twarra-rang, twarra-rang, went the trumpeters; Fiddle-diddle, fiddle-diddle, went the fiddlers three: Old King Coul was a jolly old soul, Old King Coul, he had a brown bowl, And they brought him in drummers three: Fiddle-diddle, fiddle-diddle, went the fiddlers three: OVER THE WATER TO CHARLIE. [JACOBITE SONG.] TUNE-Over the Water to Charlie. COME, boat me ower, come, row me ower, I'll gie John Ross another bawbee, To ferry me ower to Charlie. We'll over the water, and over the sea, Come weel, come woe, we'll gather and go, *From Herd's Collection, 1776. It's weel I loe my Charlie's name, I swear by moon and stars sae bricht, I ance had sons, I now hae nane ; THE WAEFU' HEART. TUNE-The waefu' heart. GIN livin' worth could win my heart, My waefu' heart lies low wi' his, Whose heart was only mine; And, oh! what a heart was that to lose- Yet, oh gin heaven in mercy soon And see, his gentle spirit comes, To show me on my way; Surprised, nae doubt, I still am here, I come, I come, my Jamie dear; She said, and soon a deadly pale CUTTIE'S WEDDING. TUNE-Cuttie's Wedding. BUSK and go, busk and go, Busk and go to Cuttie's wedding! That wadna gang an they were bidden ? Cuttie he's a lang man, O he'll get a little wifie; But he'll tak on to the town loan When she taks on her fickie-fykie. Cuttie he cam here yestreen; Cuttie he fell ower the midden; He sat him doun upon the green, He * From Johnson's Musical Museum, vol. III. 1790. Busk and go, busk and go, Busk and go to Cuttie's wedding! That wadna gang an they were bidden ? * O, AN YE WERE DEID, GUIDMAN. O, AN ye were deid, guidman, And a green truff on your heid, guidman, There's sax eggs in the pan, guidman, There's beef into the pot, guidman, There's sax horse in the sta', guidman, There's sax kye in the byre, guidman, And the lave is our John Highlandman's.† *This humorous old rant, which is sung to a very lively tune, is from Buchan's Ancient Ballads and Songs of the North of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1828. + From Herd's Collection, 1776. MAGGIE LAUDER.* SEMPLE. TUNE-Maggie Lauder. WHA wadna be in love Wi' bonnie Maggie Lauder? And spier'd what was't they ca'd her Jog on your gate, you bladderskate ! ‡ Maggie! quoth he; and, by my bags, For I'm a piper to my trade; My name is Rob the Ranter: Piper, quo Meg, hae ye your bags, "This old song, so pregnant with Scottish naiveté and energy, is much relished by all ranks, notwithstanding its broad wit and palpable allusions. Its language is a precious model of imitation; sly, sprightly, and forcibly expressive. Maggie's tongue wags out the nicknames of Rob the Piper with all the careless lightsomeness of unrestrained gaiety."-BURNS. "Hallanshaker is what the old people call a rambling mischievous fellow; one who sods up the burns, ties the doors, and works other pranks of innocent merriment. The hallan is a bundle composed of the longest broom, entwisted with willows, placed movable to ward the wind from the door. The partition which divided the spence from the hall was frequently named the Hallan,' being formed of similar materials."-CROMEK. "Bladderskate ought to be Blether-skyte. Ye bletherin' loon,' Ye vile skyte,' are terms of familiar reproach still in use, and are innocently applied to those satiric rogues who have the art of mingling falsehood with truth with admirable art, annoying with it the sage remarks of the soberminded and wise."--IDEM. |