The Book of Scottish Song/O'er the Water to Charlie

O’er the Water to Charlie.

[This popular Jacobite song has been subjected to various alterations by different hands, so that few copies read alike. We give here Hogg's version, in his "Relics." The tune, "O'er the water to Charlie," is older than the '45, and it is probable that there was some old song with that burthen before the Jacobitical effusion.]

Come, boat me ower, come, row me ower,
⁠Come, boat me ower to Charlie;
I'll gi'e John Ross another bawbee,
⁠To ferry me ower to Charlie.
⁠We'll over the water, and over the sea,
⁠We'll over the water to Charlie;
⁠Come weel, come woe, we'll gather and go,
⁠And live and die wi' Charlie.

It's weel I lo'e my Charlie's name,
⁠Though some there be that abhor him;
But O, to see Auld Nick gaun hame,
⁠And Charlie's faes before him!

I swear by moon and stars sae bricht,
⁠And the sun that glances early,
If I had twenty thousand lives,
⁠I'd gi'e them a' for Charlie.

I ance had sons, I now ha'e nane;
⁠I bred them, toiling sairly;
And I wad bear them a' again,
⁠And lose them a' for Charlie!

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