Four Excellent New Songs (3)/Johnny's Grey-Breeks

JOHNNY's GREY BREEKS.

 

WHEN I was in my seventeen years,
 I was both brisk and bonny O,
The lads they lov'd me far and near,
 but I lov'd nane but Johnny O.
He gain'd my heart in twa three days,
 he spake so blyth and kindly O,
And I made him new grey-breeks,
 which fitted him most finely O.
He is a handsome fellow
 his humour is both frank and free,
His locks they are almost yellow,
 like gold they glitter in mine eye,
His rosy cheeks, his dimpled chin,
 his face is fair and ruddy O,
And in a day his grey-breeks,
 were neither riv'n nor duddy O.
His breeks are thread bare worn,
 they're wider then they us'd to be,
They're tatter'd sare and torn
 and sare clouted on ilka knee,
But if a live another year,
 as I have done right mony O,
I'll make a web of grey claith,
 for to be breeks to Johnny O.
To clead him well is my desire,
 and it must all my study be,
But he must wear the auld pair,
 a wee, tho' they be duddy O.
I'll put a clout upon a clout,
 and that will set the wind about,
And I will clout my Johnny's grey-breeks,
 for a' the ill he's done me yet,
There was but ae spoon into the house
 and Johnny made a cutty o't,
I'll clout my Johnny's grey-breeks,
 for a' the ill he's done me yet,
Johnny and his grey-breeks,
 Jenny and her petticoat.
And aught the bairn who will,
 Johnny's be the daddy o't,
When the lad was in his prime,
 like him there was not many O,
He could do it at any time,
 and who was like my Johnny O.
Well do I love his grey-breeks,
 for a' the ill they're done me yet,
For if he live another year,
 I hope he'll wait upon me yet.