LXXXIX.
Reading edition
O WILLIE BREW’D.
Tune—“Willie brew’d a peck o’ maut.”
[The scene of this song is Laggan, in Nithsdale, a small estate which Nicol bought by the advice of the poet. It was composed in memory of the house-heating. “We had such a joyous meeting,” says Burns, “that Masterton and I agreed, each in our own way, to celebrate the business.” The Willie who made the browst was, therefore, William Nicol; the Allan who composed the air, Allan Masterton; and he who wrote this choicest of convivial songs, Robert Burns.]
I.
O, Willie brew’d a peck o’ maut, And Rob and Allan came to see: Three blither hearts, that lee-lang night Ye wad na find in Christendie. We are na fou, we’re no that fou, But just a drappie in our e’e; The cock may craw, the day may daw, And aye we’ll taste the barley bree.
II.
Here are we met, three merry boys, Three merry boys, I trow, are we; And mony a night we’ve merry been, And mony mae we hope to be!
III.
It is the moon—I ken her horn, That’s blinkin in the lift sae hie; She shines sae bright to wyle us hame, But, by my sooth, she’ll wait a wee!
IV.
Wha first shall rise to gang awa’, A cuckold, coward loon is he! Wha last beside his chair shall fa’, He is the king amang us three! We are na fou, we’re no that fou, But just a drappie in our e’e; The cock may craw, the day may daw, And aye we’ll taste the barley bree.