My Nannie's awa'.
[This was written by Burns in December, 1794, for Thomson's collection, to the tune of "There's few gude fellows when Jamie's awa," or as it is now more commonly called, "There'll never be peace till Jamie come hame." Clarinda, alias Agnes M'Lehose, is the supposed subject of the song.]
Now in her green mantle blythe nature arrays,
And listens the lambkins that bleat ower the braes,
While birds warble welcome in ilka green shaw;
But to me it's delightless—my Nannie's awa'.
The snaw-drap and primrose our woodlands adorn,
And violets bathe in the weet o' the morn;
They pain my sad bosom, sae sweetly they blaw!
They mind me o' Nannie—and Nannie's awa'.
Thou laverock, that springs frae the dews of the lawn,
The shepherd to warn of the grey-breaking dawn,
And thou mellow mavis, that hails the night-fa';
Give over for pity—my Nannie's awa'.
Come, autumn, sae pensive, in yellow and grey.
And soothe me wi' tidings o' nature's decay:
The dark, dreary winter, and wild-driving snaw,
Alane can delight me—my Nannie's awa'.