XXXIV.
Reading edition
COME DOWN THE BACK STAIRS.
Tune—“Whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad.”
[The air of this song was composed by John Bruce, a Dumfries fiddler. Burns gave another and happier version to the work of Thomson: this was written for the Museum of Johnson, where it was first published.]
CHORUS.
O whistle, and I’ll come To you, my lad; O whistle, and I’ll come To you, my lad: Tho’ father and mither Should baith gae mad, O whistle, and I’ll come To you, my lad. Come down the back stairs When ye come to court me; Come down the back stairs When ye come to court me; Come down the back stairs, And let naebody see, And come as ye were na Coming to me.