by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

The tither morn
Language: Scottish (Scots) 
The tither morn,
When I, forlorn,
Aneath an aik sat moaning;
I did na trow,
I'd see my jo,
Beside me 'gain the glo'ming,
But he sae trig,
Lap o'er the rig,
And dawtingly did chear me;
When I, what reck,
Did least expect,
To see my lad sae near me.

His bonnet he,
A thought ajee,
Cock'd sprush when first he clasp'd me;
And I, I wat,
Wi' fainness grat,
While in his grips he press'd me;
De'il tak the war,
I late and air
Ha'e wish'd since Jock departed;
But now as glad
I'm wi' my lad,
As shortsyne broken-hearted.

Fu' aft at e'en,
Wi' dancing keen,
When a' were blyth and merry,
I car'd na by,
Sae sad was I,
In absence o' my deary;
But praise be blest!
My mind's at rest,
I'm happy wi' my Johnny:
At kirk and fair,
I'se ay be there;
And be as canty's ony.

GLOSSARY

Tither = other
Aik = oak
Trig = spruce, neat
Rig = leapt over the ridge
Dawtingly = fondly
Ajee = to one side
Sprush = sprucely
Wat = knew
Fainness = joy
Grat = wept
Air = early
Shortsyne = lately, not long ago
Fu' aft = very often
I car'd na by = I was indifferent
As canty's ony = as cheerful as any

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Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2013-03-25
Line count: 36
Word count: 154