by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758)
The old highland laddie
Language: English
The Lawland maids gang trig and fine,
But aft they're sour and unco saucy;
Sae proud they never can be kind,
Like my good-humour'd highland lassie.
O my bonny, bonny highland lassie,
My hearty smiling highland lassie;
May never care make thee less fair,
But bloom of youth still bless my lassie.
Than ony lass in borrows-town,
Wha makes their cheeks with patches motie,
I'd tak my Katie but a gown,
Barefooted, in her little coatie.
O my bonny, etc.
Beneath the brier or brecken bush,
Whene'er I kiss and court my dawtie,
Happy and blythe as ane wad wish,
My flighterin heart gangs pittle-pattie.
O my bonny, etc.
O'er highest heathery hills I'll sten,
With cockit gun and ratches tenty,
To drive the deer out of their den,
To feast my lass on dishes dainty.
O my bonny, etc.
There's nane shall dare, by deed or word,
'Gainst her to wag a tongue or finger,
While I can wield my trusty sword,
Or frae my side whisk out a whinger
O my bonny, etc.
The mountains clad with purple bloom,
And berries ripe, invite my treasure
To range with me, let great fowk gloom,
While wealth and pride confound their pleasure.
O my bonny, etc.
J. Haydn sets stanzas 1, 3, 6
unco = very;
dawtie = darling;
fowk = folk
Text Authorship:
- by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "The old highland laddie", Hob.XXXIa:248, JHW XXXII/3 no. 248, stanzas 1,3,6. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-08
Line count: 33
Word count: 206