Some one of a troop of dragoons was my daddie, No wonder I'm fond of a sodger laddie.

Sing, Lal de lal, &c.

II.

The first of my loves was a swaggering blade,
To rattle the thundering drum was his trade;
His leg was so tight, and his cheek was so ruddy,
Transported I was with my sodger laddie.

Sing, Lal de lal, &c.

III.

But the godly old chaplain left him in the lurch,
The sword I forsook for the sake of the church
He ventur'd the soul, and I risked the body,
'Twas then I prov'd false to my sodger laddie.

Sing, Lal de lal, &c.

IV.

Full soon I grew sick of my
sick of my sanctified sot,
The regiment at large for a husband I got;
From the gilded spontoon to the fife I was ready,
I asked no more but a sodger laddie.

Sing, Lal de lal, &c.

V.

But the peace it reduc'd me to beg in despair,
Till I met my old boy at a Cunningham fair;
His rags regimental they flutter'd so gaudy,
My heart it rejoic'd at my sodger laddie.
Sing, Lal de lal, &c.

VI.

And now I have liv'd-I know not how long,

And still I can join in a cup or a song;

But whilst with both hands I can hold the glass

steady.

Here's to thee, my hero, my sodger laddie!

Sing, Lal de lal, &c.

RECITATIVO.

Then neist outspak a raucle carlin,
Wha kent fu' weel to cleek the sterling,
For mony a pursie she had hooked,
And had in mony a well been ducked.
Her dove had been a Highland laddie,
But weary fa' the waefu' woodie!
Wi' sighs and sobs she thus began
To wail her braw John Highlandman.

AIR-O AN YE WERE DEAD, GUDEMAN.

I.

A Highland lad my love was born,
The Lawland laws he held in scorn;
But he still was faithfu' to his clan,
My gallant braw John Highlandman.

CHORUS.

Sing, hey my braw John Highlandman! Sing, ho my braw John Highlandman! There's not a lad in a' the lan'

Was match for my John Highlandman.

II.

With his philibeg an' tartan plaid,

An' gude claymore down by his side,
The ladies' hearts he did trepan,

My gallant braw John Highlandman.

Sing, hey, &c.

III.

We ranged a' from Tweed to Spey,

An' liv'd like lords and ladies gay;

For a Lawland face he feared none,

My gallant braw John Highlandman.

IV.

Sing, hey, &c.

They banish'd him beyond the sea,
But ere the bud was on the tree,
Adown my cheeks the pearls ran,
Embracing my John Highlandman.

V.

Sing, hey, &c.

But, oh! they catch'd him at the last,
And bound him in a dungeon fast;
My curse upon them every one,

They've hang'd my braw John Highlandman.

Sing, hey, &c.

VI.

And now a widow, I must mourn

The pleasures that will ne'er return;
No comfort but a hearty can,

When I think on John Highlandman.

M

Sing, hey, &c.

RECITATIVO.

A pigmy scraper wi' his fiddle,
Wha us'd to trysts and fairs to driddle,
Her strappan limb and gausy middle

He reach'd nae higher,

Had hol'd his heartie like a riddle,

An' blawn't on fire.

Wi' hand on haunch, an' upward e'e, He croon❜d his gamut, one, two, three, Then in an Arioso key,

The wee Apollo

Set off wi' Allegretto glee

His giga solo.

AIR-WHISTLE OWRE THE LAVE O'T.

I.

Let me ryke up to dight that tear, go wi' me to be my dear,

An'

An' then your every care and fear

May whistle owre the lave o't.