by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

Whistle o'er the lave o't
 (Sung text for setting by J. Haydn)
 See original
Language: Scottish (Scots) 
Our translations:  FRE
First when Maggy was my care,
Heaven, I thought, was in her air;
Now we're married, spier nae mair,
  But whistle o'er the lave o't.
Meg was meek, and Meg was mild,
Sweet and harmless as a child;
Wiser men than me's beguile'd,
  So whistle o'er the lave o't.

How we live, my Meg and me,
How we love, and how agree;
I care na by how few may see,
  Whistle o'er the lave o't.
Wha I wish were maggots' meat,
Dish'd up in her winding-sheet;
I could write, -- but Meg maun see't,
  Whistle o'er the lave o't.
Glossary

Spear = ask, enquire
Lave = rest, remainder
I care na by = I am indifferent
Maun = must

Composition:

    Set to music by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Whistle o'er the lave o't", Hob. XXXIa:76bis, JHW. XXXII/3 no. 231 [ voice and piano ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "First when Maggy was my care"

Go to the general single-text view

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sifflez sur ce qu'il en reste", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2009-07-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 101