Blow Away the Morning Dew
No: 112; variant: 112D
- THERE was a shepherd's son
Kept sheep upon a hill;
He laid his pipe and crook aside,
And there he slept his fill.
Sing, Fal deral, etc.
- He looked east, he looked west,
Then gave an under-look,
And there he spyed a lady fair,
Swimming in a brook.
- He raisd his head frae his green bed,
And then approachd the maid;
'Put on your claiths, my dear,' he says,
'And be ye not afraid.
- ''tis fitter for a lady fair
To sew her silken seam
Than to get up in a May morning
And strive against the stream.'
- 'If you'll not touch my mantle,
And let my claiths alane,
Then I'll give you as much money
As you can carry hame.'
- 'O I'll not touch your mantle,
And I'll let your claiths alane;
But I'll tak you out of the clear water,
My dear, to be my ain.'
- And when she out of the water came,
He took her in his arms:
'Put on your claiths, my dear,' he says,
'And hide those lovely charms.'
- He mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself upon anither,
And all along the way they rode,
Like sister and like brither.
- When she came to her father's yate
She tirled at the pin,
And ready stood the porter there,
To let this fair maid in.
- And when the gate was opened,
So nimbly's she whipt in;
'Pough! you're a fool without,' she says,
'And I'm a maid within.
- 'Then fare ye well, my modest boy,
I thank you for your care;
But had you done what you should do,
I neer had left you there.'
- 'Oh I'll cast aff my hose and shoon,
And let my feet gae bare,
And gin I meet a bonny lass,
Hang me if her I spare.'
- 'In that do as you please,' she says,
'But you shall never more
Have the same opportunity;'
With that she shut the door.
- There is a gude auld proverb,
I've opten heard it told,
He that would not when he might,
He should not when he would.