The Book of Scottish Song/Cauld Kail in Aberdeen 2
Cauld Kail in Aberdeen.
[This counter strain to the convivial song of the same name was written by Alexander fourth Duke of Gordon (born in 1743; died in 1827,) and inserted in the second volume of Johnson's Museum.]
There's cauld kail in Aberdeen,
And custocks in Stra'bogie,
Gin I ha'e but a bonnie lass,
Ye're welcome to your cogie.
And ye may sit up a' the night,
And drink till it be braid day-light:
Gi'e me a lass baith clean and tight,
To dance the reel o' Bogie.
In cotillions the French excel,
John Bull loves country dances;
The Spaniards dance fandangoes well;
Mynheer an allemande prances:
In foursome reels the Scots delight,
At threesome's they dance wondrous light,
But twasome's ding a' out o' sight,
Danc'd to the reel o' Bogie.
Come, lads, and view your partners weel,
Wale each a blythesome rogie:
I'll tak' this lassie to mysel',
She looks sae keen and vogie:
Now, piper lad, bang up the spring;
The country fashion is the thing,
To prie their mou's ere we begin
To dance the reel o' Bogie.
Now ilka lad has got a lass,
Save yon auld doited fogie,
And ta'en a fling upon the grass,
As they do in Stra'bogie;
But a' the lassies look sae fein,
We canna think oursel's to hain,
For they maun ha'e their come-again
To dance the reel o' Bogie.
Now a' the lads ha'e done their best,
Like true men o' Stra'bogie;
We'll stop a while and tak' a rest,
And tipple out a cogie.
Come now, my lads, and tak' your glass.
And try ilk other to surpass,
In wishing health to ev'ry lass,
To dance the reel o' Bogie.