The Laird o Drum
No: 236; variant: 236A
- O IT fell out upon a day,
When Drums was going to ride, O
And there he met with a well-far'd may,
Keeping her flocks on yon side. O
- 'O fair may, O rare may,
Can not you fancy me?
Of a' the lasses here about
I like nane so well as thee.'
- 'Set your love on another, kind sir,
Set it not on me,
For I'm not fit to be your bride,
And your whore I'll never be.'
- Drums is to her father gane,
Keeping his flocks on yon hill,
And he has gotten his consent,
And the maid was at his will.
- 'My daughter can neither read nor write,
She was neer brought up at school;
But well can she milk cow and ewe,
And make a kebbuck well.
- 'She'll winn in your barn at bear-seed time,
Cast out your muck at Yule;
She'll saddle your steed in time o need,
Draw aff your boots hersell.'
- 'Have not I no clergymen?
Pay I no clergy fee?
I'll school her as I think fit,
And as I think fit to be.'
- Drums is to the Highlands gane
For to be made ready,
And a' the gentry thereabout
Says, Yonder comes Drums and his lady.
- 'Peggy Coutts is a very bonnie bride,
And Drums is a wealthy laddie;
But Drums might hae chosen a higher match
Than any shepherd's daughter.'
- Then up bespake his brother John,
Says, Brother you've done us wrong;
You've married ane below our degree,
A stain to a' our kin.
- 'Hold your tongue, my brother John,
I have done you no wrong;
For I've married ane to wirk and win,
And ye've married ane to spend.
- 'The last time that I had a wife,
She was above my degree;
I durst not come in her presence
But with my hat on my knee.'
- There was four-and-twenty gentlemen
Stood at the yetts o Drum;
There was na ane amang them a'
That welcomd his lady in.
- He's taen her by the milk-white hand
And led her in himsell,
And in thro ha's and thro bowers,
'And you're welcome, Lady o Drum.'
- Thrice he kissd her cherry cheek,
And thrice her cherry chin,
And twenty times her comely mouth,
'And you're welcome, Lady o Drum.'
- 'Ye shall be cook in my kitchen,
Butler in my ha;
Ye shall be lady at my command
When I ride far awa.'
- 'But what will I do when auld Drum dies,
When auld Drum dies and leaves me?
Then I'll tak back my word again,
And the Coutts will come and see me.'