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The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volumes 1-6.: The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century

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The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volumes 1-6.: The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century

Scotland -- Poetry; Scottish Gaelic poetry -- Translations into English; Songs, Scottish Gaelic -- Texts

A stately chiel they ca' John Bull
          Is unco thrang and glaikit wi' her;
        And gin he cud get a' his wull,
          There 's nane can say what he wad gi'e her:
        Johnny Bull is wooing at her,
          Courting her, but canna get her;
    Filthy Ted, she 'll never wed, as lang 's sae mony 's wooing at her.


                        XI.

        Even Irish Teague, ayont Belfast,
          Wadna care to speir about her;
        And swears, till he sall breathe his last,
          He 'll never happy be without her:
        Irish Teague is wooing at her,
          Courting her, but canna get her;
    Bonny Lizzy Liberty has ow'r mony wooing at her.


                        XII.

        But Donald Scot 's the happy lad,
          Though a' the lave sud try to rate him;
        Whan he steps up the brae sae glad,
          She disna ken maist whare to set him:
        Donald Scot is wooing at her,
          Courting her, will maybe get her;
    Bonny Lizzy Liberty, wow, sae mony 's wooing at her.


                        XIII.

        Now, Donald, tak' a frien's advice--
          I ken fu' weel ye fain wad hae her;
        As ye are happy, sae be wise,
          And ha'd ye wi' a smackie frae her:
        Ye 're wooing at her, fain wad hae her,
          Courting her, will maybe get her;
    Bonny Lizzy Liberty, there 's ow'r mony wooing at her.


                        XIV.

        Ye 're weel, and wat'sna, lad, they 're sayin',
          Wi' getting leave to dwall aside her;
        And gin ye had her a' your ain,
          Ye might na find it mows to guide her:
        Ye 're wooing at her, fain wad hae her,
          Courting her, will maybe get her;
    Cunning quean, she 's ne'er be mine, as lang 's sae mony 's wooing at her.




THE STIPENDLESS PARSON.

TUNE--_"A Cobbler there was,"_ &c.


                        I.

    How happy a life does the Parson possess,
    Who would be no greater, nor fears to be less;
    Who depends on his book and his gown for support,
    And derives no preferment from conclave or court!
                                    Derry down, &c.


                        II.

    Without glebe or manse settled on him by law,
    No stipend to sue for, nor vic'rage to draw;
    In discharge of his office he holds him content,
    With a croft and a garden, for which he pays rent.
                                    Derry down, &c.


                        III.

    With a neat little cottage and furniture plain,
    And a spare room to welcome a friend now and then;
    With a good-humour'd wife in his fortune to share,
    And ease him at all times of family care.
                                    Derry down, &c.


                        IV.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volumes 1-6.: The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century

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