Bonny Barbara Allan (1815-1825)/Oh! Nannie, wilt thou gang wi' me

FAIREST OF THE FAIR.

O Nannie, wilt thou gang wi' me,
⁠Nor sigh to leave the flaunting town;
Can silent glens have charms for thee,
⁠The lowly cot, and russet gown?
Nae langer drest in silken sheen,
⁠Nae langer deck'd wi' jewels rare,
Say, canst thou quit each courtly scene,
⁠Where thou wast fairest of the fair?

O Nannie, when thou'rt far awa,
⁠Wilt thou not cast a look behind?
Say, canst thou face the flaky snaw,
⁠Nor shrink before the warping wind?
O can that saft and gentlest mien,
⁠Severest hardships learn to bear,
Nor sad regret each courtly scene,
⁠Where thou wast fairest of the fair?

O Nannie, canst thou love so true,
⁠Thro' perils keen wi' me to gae?
Or when thy swain mislop shall rue,
⁠To share with him the pang of wae,
And when invading pains befal,
⁠Wilt thou assume the nurse's care,
Nor wishful those gay scenes recal,
⁠Where thou wast fairest of the fair?

And when at last thy love shall die,
⁠Wilt thou receive his parting breath?
Wilt thou repress each struggling sigh,
⁠And cheer with smiles the bed of death?
And wilt thou o'er his much-lov'd clay,
⁠Strew flow'rs, and drop the tender tear?
Nor then regret those scenes so gay,
⁠Where thou wast fairest of the fair?