The Book of Scottish Song/Hey, how, my Johnnie lad

Hey, how, my Johnnie lad.

[This song is partly preserved by Herd in his collection, 1776, but is here given with some slight additions by Allan Cunningham. It is sung to a reel tune, originally called "The Lasses o' the Ferry." Tannahill wrote a song with the same burthen, and to the same tune, which is also given in this work.]

Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
⁠Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been,
For gin your voice I had na kent,
⁠I'm sure I couldna trust my een;
Sae weel's ye might ha'e courted me,
⁠And sweetly pree'd my mou' bedeen:
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
⁠Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

My father, he was at the pleugh,
⁠My mither, she was at the mill;
My brother, he was at the moss,
⁠And no ane near our sport to spill:
A lug to listen was na there,
⁠And still less fear o' being seen
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
⁠Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

Wad ony lad who lo'ed me weel
⁠Ha'e left me a' my liefu' lane,
To count the minutes as they crawled,
⁠And think life's sweetest moments gane.
I wonder what was in your head,
⁠I wonder what was in your een,
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
⁠Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

But I shall seek some other lad,
⁠Whose love is upmost in his mind;
As gleg as light, wha has the slight
⁠O' kenning when he should be kind.
Then ye may woo wi' blinkin' Bess—
⁠For you nae mair I'll sigh and green:
Hey, how, my Johnnie lad,
⁠Ye're no sae kind's ye should ha'e been.

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