The Grey Cock, or, Saw You My Father
No: 248; variant: 248A
- 'O SAW ye my father? or saw ye my mother?
Or saw ye my true-love John?'
'I saw not your father, I saw not your mother,
But I saw your true-love John.
- 'It's now ten at night, and the stars gie nae light,
And the bells they ring ding, dang;
He's met wi some delay that causeth him to stay,
But he will be here ere lang.'
- The surly auld earl did naething but snarl,
And Johny's face it grew red;
Yet, tho he often sighd, he neer a word replied
Till all were asleep in bed.
- Up Johny rose, and to the door he goes,
And gently tirle:d the pin;
The lassie taking tent unto the door she went,
And she opend and let him in.
- 'And are ye come at last? and do I hold ye fast?
And is my Johny true?'
'I hae nae time to tell, but sae lang's I like mysell
Sae lang will I love you.'
- 'Flee, flee up, my bonny grey cock,
And craw when it is day;
Your neck shall be like the bonny beaten gold,
And your wings of the silver grey.'
- The cock prov'd false, and untrue he was,
For he crew an hour oer soon;
The lassie thought it was day when she sent her love away,
And it was but a blink of the moon.