Oh, Helen dear.
[Thomas Anderson.—Here first printed.—Tune, "John Anderson, my jo."]
Oh, Helen dear! oh, Helen dear!
Do ye no mind the day,
When you and I were lad and lass,
And on the green did stray;
When wearied wi' our walk at e'en,
I kindly led you hame,
And stole the tender parting kiss,
And breathed your cherish'd name?
I'm sure our hearts were guileless then,
And free from every stain;
We little dream'd that aught on earth
Could ever gi'e us pain.
But days and years ha'e o'er us pass'd,
And weel ye ken, I ween,
That sorrows, toils, and troubles great,
Our dreary lot ha'e been.
And what may be our future fate,
Ah! little do we ken,
But, trusting aye to providence,
We'll tak' what heaven may sen'.
This chequer'd scene it soon will close,
And we will get the ca',
Just like the sere and yellow leaf,
When winter's bleak winds blaw.