| O WALY, waly, up the bank, | |
| And waly, waly, doun the brae, | |
| And waly, waly, yon burn-side, | |
| Where I and my Love wont to gae! | |
| I lean'd my back unto an aik, | 5 |
| I thocht it was a trustie tree; | |
| But first it bow'd and syne it brak— | |
| Sae my true love did lichtlie me. | |
| |
| O waly, waly, gin love be bonnie | |
| A little time while it is new! | 10 |
| But when 'tis auld it waxeth cauld, | |
| And fades awa' like morning dew. | |
| O wherefore should I busk my heid, | |
| Or wherefore should I kame my hair? | |
| For my true Love has me forsook, | 15 |
| And says he'll never lo'e me mair. | |
| |
| Now Arthur's Seat sall be my bed, | |
| The sheets sall ne'er be 'filed by me; | |
| Saint Anton's well sall be my drink; | |
| Since my true Love has forsaken me. | 20 |
| Marti'mas wind, when wilt thou blaw, | |
| And shake the green leaves aff the tree? | |
| O gentle Death, when wilt thou come? | |
| For of my life I am wearìe. | |
| |
| 'Tis not the frost, that freezes fell, | 25 |
| Nor blawing snaw's inclemencie, | |
| 'Tis not sic cauld that makes me cry; | |
| But my Love's heart grown cauld to me. | |
| When we cam in by Glasgow toun, | |
| We were a comely sicht to see; | 30 |
| My Love was clad in the black velvèt, | |
| And I mysel in cramasie. | |
| |
| But had I wist, before I kist, | |
| That love had been sae ill to win, | |
| I had lock'd my heart in a case o' gowd, | 35 |
| And pinn'd it wi' a siller pin. | |
| And O! if my young babe were born, | |
| And set upon the nurse's knee; | |
| And I mysel were dead and gane, | |
| And the green grass growing over me! | 40 |
