Auld Robin Grey

When the sheep are in the fauld, and the ky at hame, And a' the warld to sleep are gane, The waes o' my heart a' in show'rs frae my e'e. When my gudeman lies sound by me.

Young Jamie loo'd me weel, and he sought me for his bride, But saving a crown he had naething beside; To mak' this crown a pund my Jamie gade to sea, And the crown and the pund were baith for me.

He had na' been awa' a week but only twa, When my mither she fell sick, and the cow was stoun awa' My father brak' his arm and my Jamie at the sea, And auld Robin Grey cam' a-courting me.

My father cou'd na' work, and my mither cou'd na' spin, I toil'd day and night, but their bread I cou'd na' win; Auld Rob maintain'd them baith, and wi' tears in his e'c, Said, "Jenny, for their sakes, O marry me."

My heart it said nay, I look'd for Jamie back, But the wind it blew high, and the ship it was a wreck; The ship it was a wreck, why did na' Jamie die? And why do I live to say waes me?

Auld Robin argu'd fair, tho' my mither did na speak; She look'd in my face 'till my heart was like to break; So they gi'ed him my hand, tho' my heart was at the sea, And auld Robin Grey is gudeman to me.

I had na' been a wife a week but only four, When sitting sac mournfully at the door, I saw my Jamie's gaste, for I cou'd na' think it he, 'Till he said, "I'm come back for to marry thee."

O fair did we greet, and muckle did we say, We took but ae kiss, and tore ourselves away: I wish I were dead, but I'm na' like to die, And why do I live to say waes me!

I gang like a ghaist, and care na' to spin; I dare na' think on Jamie, for that wou'd be sin; But I'll do my best a gude wife to be, For auld Robin Grey is kind unto me.