The Laird o Drum
No: 236; variant: 236F
- 'OH, will ye fancy me, fair maid?
Oh, will ye fancy me? O
Or will ye go to be ladye o the Drum,
An let a' your shearin abe? O
An let a' your shearin abe? O
An let a' your shearin abe?' O
- 'I can neither read nor write,
Nor neer been brocht up at schule;
But I can do all other things,
An keep a hoose richt weel.
- 'My faither he's a puir shepherd-man,
Herds his hogs on yonder hill;
Gin ye will go get his consent,
Then I'll be at your call.'
- He has gane to her father,
That herds hogs on yonder hill;
He said, 'You've got a pretty daughter,
I'd fain tak her to my sel.'
- 'She can neither read nor write,
Was neer brocht up at schule;
But she can do all other things,
An I learnt aye the lassie my sel.
- 'She'll milk your cows, she'll carry your corn,
She'll gang to the mill or the kiln;
She'll saddle your steed at any time of need,
And she'll brush up your boots hersel.'
- 'It's who will bake my bridal bread?
Or who will brew my ale?
Or who will welcome this bonnie lassie in?
For it's more than I can tell.'
- There's four-and-twenty gentlemen
Stand doun at the gate o the Drum;
Not one of them all would take off his hat
For to welcome the bonnie lassie in.
- . . . .
. . . .
'Oh, brother, you've married a wife this day
A disgrace to all our kin.'
- 'Oh, brother, I've married a wife to win,
And ye've got one to spen,
And as long as the bonnie lassie walks out and in
She shall aye be the ladye o the Drum.'
- When all was done, and no bells rung,
And all men bound for their bed,
The laird and the shepherd's bonnie daughter
In one bed they were laid.
- 'Though I'm not of as noble blood,
Nor yet of as high degree,
Now I lie locked in your arms two,
And you must be contented wi me.
- 'If you were dead, and I were dead,
And baith laid in one grave,
If we were baith to be raised up again,
Wha would ken your dust frae mine?