For other versions of this work, see My Boy Tammy (Macneill).
3198877Tam Glen — The Lammy1820sHector Macneill



THE LAMMY.

Whare hae ye been a' day,
My boy Tammy?
Whare hae ye been a' day,
My boy Tammy?
Iv'e been by burn and flow'ry brae,
Meadow green and mountain grey,
Courting o' this young thing
Just now come frae her mammy.

An' whare gat ye that young thing,
My boy Tammy?
I gat her down on yonder howe,
Smiling on a broomy knowe,
Herding a wee lamb and ewe,
For her poor mammy.

What said ye to the bonny bairn.
My boy Tammy?
I praised her een sae bonny blue.
Her dimpled cheek and bonnie mou,
I prie'd it aft, as ye may trow——
She said she'd tell her mammy.

I held her to my beating heart:
My young but smiling lammie!
I hae a house it cost me dear,
I've wealth o' plenishing and gear:
Ye'se get it a' war't ten times mair,
Gin ye will leave your mammy.

We'll tak' her hame, and make her fals,
My ain kind-hearted lammy!
We'll gie her meat, we'll gie her claise,
We'll be her comfort a her days;
The wee thing gies her hand, and says.-
There, gang and ask my mammy.

Has she been to the kirk wi' thee,
My boy Tammy?
She has been to the kirk wi' me,
And the tear was in her e'e,—
But Oh! she's but a young thing,
Just come frae her mammy.