The Book of Scottish Song/The lad that's far awa'

The lad that's far awa'.

[The first verse of this song is old. The rest was written by Burns for the Museum, to the tune of "The bonnie lad that's far awa'." The words also sing to the old air of "O'er the hills and far awa'." "This little lamentation of a desolate damsel," says Jeffrey, "is tender and pretty."]

O, how can I be blithe and glad,
⁠Or how can I gang brisk and braw,
When the bonnie lad that I lo'e best
⁠Is o'er the hills and far awa'?

It's no the frosty winter wind,
⁠It's no the driving drift and snaw;
But aye the tear comes in my e'e
⁠To think on him that's far awa'.

My father pat me frae his door,
⁠My friends they ha'e disown'd me a';
But I ha'e ane will take my part,
⁠The bonnie lad that's far awa'.

A pair o' gloves he ga'e to me,
⁠And silken snoods he ga'e me twa;
And I will wear them for his sake,
⁠The bonnie lad that's far awa'.

The weary winter soon will pass,
⁠And spring will cleed the birken shaw
And my sweet babie will be born,
⁠And he'll come hame that's far awa'.

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