Young Jamie lo'ed me weel, and he sought me for his bride, But saving a crown-piece, he had naething beside; To make the crown a pound, my Jamie gaed to sea, And the crown and the pound they were baith for me. He hadna been gane a twelvemonth and a day, When my father brake his arm, and the cow was stown away; My mither she fell sick--my Jamie at the sea; And auld Robin Gray came a-courting me. My father couldna wark, and my mither couldna spin; I toil'd day and night, but their bread I couldna win;-- Auld Rob maintain'd them baith, and, wi' tears in his e'e, Said, "Jeanie, oh, for their sakes, will ye no marry me?" My heart it said na, and I look'd for Jamie back; But hard blew the winds, and his ship was a wrack; The ship was a wrack--why didna Jamie dee? Or why am I spared to cry, Wae is me? My father urged me sair--my mither didna speak; But she look'd in my face till my heart was like to break; They gied him my hand--my heart was in the sea-- And so Robin Gray he was gudeman to me. I hadna been his wife a week but only four, When, mournfu' as I sat on the stane at my door, I saw my Jamie's ghaist, for I couldna think it he, Till he said, "I'm come hame, love, to marry thee." Oh, sair, sair did we greet, and mickle say of a'; I gied him a kiss, and bade him gang awa';-- I wish that I were dead, but I'm nae like to dee; For though my heart is broken, I'm but young, wae is me! I gang like a ghaist, and carena much to spin; I darena think o' Jamie, for that wad be a sin; But I'll do my best a gude wife to be, For oh, Robin Gray, he is kind to me! PART II. The spring had pass'd over, 'twas summer nae mair, And, trembling, were scatter'd the leaves in the air; "Oh, winter," cried Jeanie, "we kindly agree, For wae looks the sun when he shines upon me." Nae langer she wept, her tears were a' spent; Despair it was come, and she thought it content; She thought it content, but her cheek was grown pale, And she droop'd like a snow-drop broke down by the hail. Her father was sad, and her mother was wae, But silent and thoughtfu' was auld Robin Gray; He wander'd his lane, and his face was as lean As the side of a brae where the torrents have been. He gaed to his bed, but nae physic would take, And often he said, "It is best, for her sake!" While Jeanie supported his head as he lay, The tears trickled down upon auld Robin Gray. "Oh, greet nae mair, Jeanie!" said he, wi' a groan; "I 'm nae worth your sorrow--the truth maun be known; Send round for your neighbours--my hour it draws near, And I 've that to tell that it 's fit a' should hear.