Note 55 — CAROLINA, BARONESS NAIRN.
Reading edition
There are several other versions of this highly popular song. One of these, the composition of William Reid of Glasgow, has already been adduced. See ante, p. 157. Another, which is one of the most celebrated, in the first two verses is nearly the same with the opening stanzas of Lady Nairn's version, the sequel proceeding as follows:—
I praised her beauty loud an' lang, Then round her waist my arms I flang, And said, "My dearie, will ye gang To see the Carse o' Gowrie? "I'll tak ye to my father's ha', In yon green field beside the shaw; I'll mak you lady o' them a'— The brawest wife in Gowrie." Soft kisses on her lips I laid, The blush upon her cheek soon spread; She whisper'd modestly, and said, "I'll gang wi' you to Gowrie." The auld folks soon ga'e their consent, Syne for Mess John they quickly sent, Wha tied them to their heart's content, And now she's Lady Gowrie.
Mr Lyle, in his "Ancient Ballads and Songs" (Lond. 1827, 12mo, p. 138), presents an additional version, which we subjoin. Mr Lyle remarks, that he had revised it from an old stall copy, ascribed to Colonel James Ramsay of Stirling Castle.
THE BONNIE LASS O' GOWRIE.
A wee bit north frae yon green wood, Whar draps the sunny showerie, The lofty elm-trees spread their boughs, To shade the braes o' Gowrie; An' by yon burn ye scarce can see, There stan's a rustic bowerie, Whar lives a lass mair dear to me Than a' the maids in Gowrie. Nae gentle bard e'er sang her praise, 'Cause fortune ne'er left dowrie; The rose blaws sweetest in the shade, So does the flower o' Gowrie. When April strews her garlands roun', Her bare foot treads the flowerie; Her sang gars a' the woodlands ring, That shade the braes o' Gowrie. Her modest blush an' downcast e'e, A flame sent beating through me; For she surpasses all I've seen, This peerless flower o' Gowrie. I've lain upon the dewy green Until the evening hourie, An' thought gin e'er I durst ca' mine The bonnie lass o' Gowrie. The bushes that o'erhang the burn, Sae verdant and sae flowerie, Can witness that I love alane The bonnie lass o' Gowrie. Let ithers dream an' sigh for wealth, An' fashions fleet and flowery; Gi'e me that heav'nly innocence Upon the braes o' Gowrie.