For other versions of this work, see Bessy Bell and Mary Gray.
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray.
⟨O⟩ Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonny lasses,
They bigg'd a bower on yon burnbrae
And theeked it o'er wi rashes.
⟨Fair⟩ Bessy Bell I lo'ed yestreen,
And thought I ne'er could alter:
⟨Bat⟩ Mary Gray's twa pawky een,
They gar my fancy falter.
They war twa bonny lasses,
They bigg'd a bower on yon burnbrae
And theeked it o'er wi rashes.
⟨Fair⟩ Bessy Bell I lo'ed yestreen,
And thought I ne'er could alter:
⟨Bat⟩ Mary Gray's twa pawky een,
They gar my fancy falter.
Now Bessy's hair's like a lint-tap;
She smiles like a May morning,
When Phoebus starts frae Thetis' lap,
The hills with rays adorning:
White is her neck, saft is her hand,
Her waist and feet's fu' genty;
With ilka grace she can command;
Her lips, O vow! they're dainty.
She smiles like a May morning,
When Phoebus starts frae Thetis' lap,
The hills with rays adorning:
White is her neck, saft is her hand,
Her waist and feet's fu' genty;
With ilka grace she can command;
Her lips, O vow! they're dainty.
And Mary's locks are like a craw,
Her een like diamonds glances;
She aye sae clean, red up and braw,
She's kills whene'er she dances.
Blythe as a kid, with wit and will,
She blooming, tight, and talls is;
And guides her airs fae gracefu' still,
O Jove, she's like thy Pallas.
Her een like diamonds glances;
She aye sae clean, red up and braw,
She's kills whene'er she dances.
Blythe as a kid, with wit and will,
She blooming, tight, and talls is;
And guides her airs fae gracefu' still,
O Jove, she's like thy Pallas.
Dear Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
Ye unco fair oppress us;
Our fancies jee between you twa,
Ye are sic bonny lasses:
Waes me! for baith I canna get,
To ane by law we're stinted;
Then I'll draw cuts, and tak my fate,
And be with ane contented.
Ye unco fair oppress us;
Our fancies jee between you twa,
Ye are sic bonny lasses:
Waes me! for baith I canna get,
To ane by law we're stinted;
Then I'll draw cuts, and tak my fate,
And be with ane contented.