An whar' hae ye been a' day, 
My boy Tammy?
I've been by burn an' flowery brae, 
Meadow green, an' mountain grey,
Courtin' o' this young thing
Just come frae her mammy.

An' whar' gat ye that young thing 
My boy, Tammy ?
I gat her down in yonder howe, 
Smiling on a broomy knowe: 
Herdin' ae wee lamb an' ewe
For her puir mammy.

What said ye to the bonnie bairn, 
My boy, Tammy?
I praised her een, sae lovely blue, 
Her dimpled cheek, an' cherry mou'; 
An' pree'd it aft,as ye may trow!
She said, she’d tell her mammy.

I held her to my beatin' heart, 
My young, my smiling lammie!
I hae a house, it cost me dear, 
I've walth o' plenishin' an' gear; 
Ye'se get it a', wer't ten times mair. 
Gin ye will leave your mammy.

The smile gaed off her bonnie face
I maunna leave my mammy;
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claes, 
She's been my comfort a' her days, 
My father's death brought mony waes!
I canna leave my mammy.

Well tak' her hame and make her fain, 
My ain kind hearted lammie;
We'll gie her meat, we'll gie her claes, 
We'll be her comfort a' her days, 
The wee thing gies her hand, an' says, 
There! gang an' ask my mammy!

Has she been to the kirk wi' thee.
My boy, Tammy?
She has been to the kirk wi' me, 
An the tear was in her e’e 
For O, she's but a young thing, 
Just come frae her mammy.