CLVIII.
Reading edition
THE CARDIN’ O’T.
Tune—“Salt-fish and dumplings.”
[“This song,” says Sir Harris Nicolas, “is in the Musical Museum, but not with Burns’s name to it.” It was given by Burns to Johnson in his own handwriting.]
I.
I coft a stane o’ haslock woo’, To make a wat to Johnny o’t; For Johnny is my only jo, I lo’e him best of ony yet. The cardin’ o’t, the spinnin’ o’t, The warpin’ o’t, the winnin’ o’t; When ilka ell cost me a groat, The tailor staw the lynin o’t.
II.
For though his locks be lyart gray, And tho’ his brow be beld aboon; Yet I hae seen him on a day, The pride of a’ the parishen. The cardin’ o’t, the spinnin’ o’t, The warpin’ o’t, the winnin’ o’t; When ilka ell cost me a groat, The tailor staw the lynin o’t.