1793
poortith cauld and restless love
tune—“cauld kail in aberdeen.”
o poortith cauld, and restless love,
ye wrack my peace between ye;
yet poortith a' i could forgive,
an 'twere na for my jeanie.
chorus—o why should fate sic pleasure have,
life's dearest bands untwining?
or why sae sweet a flower as love
depend on fortune's shining?
the warld's wealth, when i think on,
it's pride and a' the lave o't;
o fie on silly coward man,
that he should be the slave o't!
o why, &c.
her e'en, sae bonie blue, betray
how she repays my passion;
but prudence is her o'erword aye,
she talks o' rank and fashion.
o why, &c.
o wha can prudence think upon,
and sic a lassie by him?
o wha can prudence think upon,
and sae in love as i am?
o why, &c.
how blest the simple cotter's fate!
he woos his artless dearie;
the silly bogles, wealth and state,
can never make him eerie,
o why, &c.