Hap and Row.
[William Creech.—Tune "The Reel o' Stumpie."—Mr. Creech (born 1745; died 1815,) was for many years a leading bookseller in Edinburgh. He was Burns's publisher there; and the reader will find in the poet's works some letters addressed to him; also a poem of which he is the subject, called "Willie's awa'." He was author of a collection of essays and sketches, called "Edinburgh Fugitive Pieces," originally printed in 1791, and reprinted after his death, in 1815.]
We'll hap and row, we'll hap and row,
We'll hap and row the feetie o't;
It is a wee bit weary thing:
I downa bide the greetie o't.
And we pat on the wee bit pan,
To boil the lick o' meatie o't;
A cinder fell and spoil'd the plan,
And burnt a' the feetie o't.
Fu' sair it grat, the puir wee brat,
And aye it kick'd the feetie o't,
Till, puir wee elf, it tired itself;
And then began the sleepie o't.
The skirling brat nae parritch gat,
When it gaed to the sleepie o't;
It's waesome true, instead o' 'ts mou'
They're round about the feetie o't.