by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Will ye gae to the ewe‑buchts, Marion
Language: English 
Will ye gae to the ewe-buchts, Marion,
⁠And wear in the sheep wi' me?
The sun shines sweet, my Marion,
⁠But nae half sae sweet as thee.

O, Marion's a bonnie lass,
⁠And the blythe blink 's in her e'e;
And fain wad I marry Marion,
⁠Gin Marion wad marry me.

There's gowd in your garters, Marion,
⁠And silk on your white hause-bane;
For fain wad I kiss my Marion,
⁠At e'en, when I come hame.

There's braw lads in Farnslaw, Marion,
⁠Wha gape, and glower wi' their e'e,
At kirk when they see my Marion,
⁠But nane o' them lo'es like me.

I've nine milk-ewes, my Marion,
⁠A cow and a brawny quey;
I'll gi'e them a' to my Marion,
⁠Just on her bridal-day.

And ye'se get a green sey apron,
⁠And waistcoat o' London broun;
And wow but ye'se be vap'rin'
⁠Whene'er ye gang to the toun.

I'm young and stout, my Marion,
⁠Nane dances like me on the green:
And, gin ye forsake me, Marion,
⁠I'll e'en gae draw up wi' Jean.

Sae put on your pearlins, Marion,
⁠And kirtle o' cramasie;
And, as sune as my chin has nae hair on,
⁠I will come west, and see ye.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with The Book of Scottish Song; Collected and Illustrated with Historical and Critical Notices by Alex. Whitelaw, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London : Blackie and Son, 1843. The editor's note reads: "Both the words and the beautiful air of The Ewe-Bughts are of undoubted antiquity. They are given in the Orpheus Caledonius, published in 1725, but belong to a period considerably earlier. Ramsay, in his Tea Table Miscellany, marks the song with a Q, signifying that it was an old song with additions. Ramsay's additions were merely a trifling verbal alteration or two."


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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2023-12-23
Line count: 32
Word count: 202