The Rantin Laddie
No: 240; variant: 240C
- 'AFT hae I playd at cards and dice
For the love o a bonny rantin laddie,
But now I maun sit i my father's kitchen-nook,
And sing, Hush, balow, my baby.
- 'If I had been wise, and had taen advice,
And dane as my bonny love bade me,
I would hae been married at Martinmass,
And been wi my rantin laddie.
- 'But I was na wise, I took nae advice,
Did not as my bonny love bade me,
And now I maun sit by mysel i the nook,
And rock my bastard baby.
- 'If I had horse at my command,
As often I had many,
I would ride on to the Castle o Aboyne,
Wi a letter to my rantin laddie.'
- Down the stair her father came,
And looke:d proud and saucy:
'Who is the man, and what is his name,
That ye ca your rantin laddie?
- 'Is he a lord, or is he a laird?
Or is he but a caddie?
Or is it the young Earl o Aboyne
That ye ca your rantin laddie?'
- 'He is a young and noble lord,
He never was a caddie;
It is the noble Earl o Aboyne
That I ca my rantin laddie.'
- 'Ye shall hae a horse at your command,
As ye had often many,
To go to the Castle o Aboyne,
Wi a letter to your rantin laddie.
- 'Where will I get a little page,
Where will I get a caddie,
That will run quick to bonny Aboyne,
Wi this letter to my rantin laddie?'
- Then out spoke the young scullion-boy,
Said, Here am I, a caddie;
I will run on to bonny Aboyne,
Wi the letter to your rantin laddie.
- 'Now when ye come to bonny Deeside,
Where woods are green and bonny,
There will ye see the Earl o Aboyne,
Among the bushes mony.
- 'And when ye come to the lands o Aboyne,
Where all around is bonny,
Ye'll take your hat into your hand,
Gie this letter to my rantin laddie.'
- When he came near the banks of Dee,
The birks were blooming bonny,
And there he saw the Earl o Aboyne,
Among the bushes mony.
- 'Where are ye going, my bonny boy?
Where are ye going, my caddie?'
'I am going to the Castle o Aboyne,
Wi a letter to the rantin laddie.'
- 'See yonder is the castle then,
My young and handsome caddie,
And I myself am the Earl o Aboyne,
Tho they ca me the rantin laddie.'
- 'O pardon, my lord, if I've done wrong;
Forgive a simple caddie;
O pardon, pardon, Earl o Aboyne,
I said but what she bade me.'
- 'Ye have done no wrong, my bonny boy,
Ye've done no wrong, my caddie;'
Wi hat in hand he bowed low,
Gave the letter to the rantin laddie.
- When young Aboyne looked the letter on,
O but he blinkit bonny!
But ere he read four lines on end
The tears came trickling mony.
- 'My father will no pity shew,
My mother still does slight me,
And a' my friends have turned from me,
And servants disrespect me.'
- 'Who are they dare be so bold
To cruelly use my lassie?
But I'll take her to bonny Aboyne,
Where oft she did caress me.
- 'Go raise to me five hundred men,
Be quick and make them ready;
Each on a steed, to haste their speed,
To carry home my lady.'
- As they rode on thro Buchanshire,
The company were many,
Wi a good claymore in every hand,
That glance:d wondrous bonny.
- When he came to her father's gate,
He called for his lady:
'Come down, come down, my bonny maid,
And speak wi your rantin laddie.'
- When she was set on high horseback,
Rowd in the Highland plaidie,
The bird i the bush sang not so sweet
As sung this bonny lady.
- As they rode on thro Buchanshire,
He cried, Each Lowland lassie,
Lay your love on some lowland lown,
And soon will he prove fause t' ye.
- 'But take my advice, and make your choice
Of some young Highland laddie,
Wi bonnet and plaid, whose heart is staid,
And he will not beguile ye.'
- As they rode on thro Garioch land,
He rode up in a fury,
And cried, Fall back, each saucy dame,
Let the Countess of Aboyne before ye.