The Sorrowful Husband (Glasgow)/The Hawk

by Anonymous

The Hawk.

Once I had a bird, and a very fine bird,
 She came and went at my request,
And when she was drest in her royal apparel,
 She builded her nest in my breast, brave boys,
   And she builded her nest in my breast.

She builded it out and she builded it in,
 This bonny bird was my delight;
But she's ta'en up her flight and has flown away quite,
 And there's nobody knows where she's gone,
   Brave boys. &c.

Then up the broad meadow and down the broad meadow,
 And through the wide forest I ran,
And there I espied my wanton wee hawk
 Standing fast by the side of a man, brave boys,
   Tied fast to another man's hand.

She bow'd down her head, and shew'd her white breast,
 She seem'd to me as if she would fly;
She's proper and tall, and comely withal,
 And the wanton grey shines in her eye,
   Brave boys, &c.

He that has got her, oh long may he keep her,
 And make the best of her he can;
Tor I vow and swear, and solemnly declare,
 That I'll hawk with her aye when I can,
   Brave boys, &c.

How can you hawk with another man's hawk?
 Without his consent can ye never:
I'll be loyal and kind, and cheer up her mind,
 And I'll make her to wear the gold feathers
   Brave Boys, &c.

And when I have got her this feather to wear,
 There's no man alive can me blame,
For she's caus'd me to walk many a cold winter night,
 Before that I got her to tame,
   Brave Boys, &c.

So here's to him that has got a good wife,
 And here's to him that has none,
And cursed be he that would go to a whore,
 When he's got a good wife of his own, brave boys,
   When he's got a good wife of his own.