CLXXV.
Reading edition
MY LADY’S GOWN, THERE’S GAIRS UPON’T.
Tune—“Gregg’s Pipes.”
[Most of this song is from the pen of Burns: he corrected the improprieties, and infused some of his own lyric genius into the old strain, and printed the result in the Museum.]
I.
My lady’s gown, there’s gairs upon’t, And gowden flowers sae rare upon’t; But Jenny’s jimps and jirkinet, My lord thinks meikle mair upon’t. My lord a-hunting he is gane, But hounds or hawks wi’ him are nane; By Colin’s cottage lies his game, If Colin’s Jenny be at hame.
II.
My lady’s white, my lady’s red, And kith and kin o’ Cassillis’ blude; But her ten-pund lands o’ tocher guid Were a’ the charms his lordship lo’ed.
III.
Out o’er yon muir, out o’er yon moss, Whare gor-cocks thro’ the heather pass, There wons auld Colin’s bonnie lass, A lily in a wilderness.
IV.
Sae sweetly move her genty limbs, Like music notes o’ lovers’ hymns: The diamond dew is her een sae blue, Where laughing love sae wanton swims.
V.
My lady’s dink, my lady’s drest, The flower and fancy o’ the west; But the lassie that a man lo’es best, O that’s the lass to make him blest. My lady’s gown, there’s gairs upon’t, And gowden flowers sae rare upon’t; But Jenny’s jimps and jirkinet, My lord thinks meikle mair upon’t.