THE WAY FOR TO WOO.
O tell me, my bonny young lassie,
O tell me the way for to woo;
O tell me, my bonny sweet lassie,
O tell me the way for to woo.
Say, maun I roose your red cheeks like the morning,
Lips like the rose when its moisten'd wi' dew
And say maun I roose your een’s pawky scorning
O tell me dear lassie the way for to woo.
O far hae I wander‘d, dear lassie,
To see thee I've sail,d the salt sea,
I’ve travell’d o’er muirlands and mountains,
And houseless lain cauld on the lea,
I never hae try’d yet to mak love to ony,
Never lov’d ony till ance I lov’d you:
Now we’re alane in the greeen wood sae bonny
Now tell me my dear lassie the way for to woo.
What care I for your wand’rings, laddie,
Or yet for your sailing-the sea?
It was nae for nought ye left Peggy,
My tocher it brought you to me.
An‘ say hae ye gowd for to busk me ay gaudy,
Wi’ ribbons an’ pearlins, an’ breast-knots anew
A house that is canty wi’ plenishin’ plenty,
Without them ye never need come for to woo?
I hae nae gowd to busk ye ay gaudy,
Nor yet buy you ribbons enew..
I brag nae o’ house nor o’ plenty,
But I hae a heart that is true.
I came nae for tocher, I ne’er heard o’ ony,
Never lo'ed Peggy,nor e'er brak my vow,
I've wander'd poor fool, for a face fause as bonny
I little thought this was the way for to woo.
Hae na ye roo'sd my red cheeks like the morning,
An’ roo'sd up my cherry red mou;
Ye’ve come o’er the sea, muir, and mountain,
What mair Johnny need you to woo:
An’ far hae ye wander'd I ken my dear laddie,
Now ye hae faund me, ye've nae cause to rue
Wi’ health we'll hae plenty, I'll never gang gaudy
I ne’er wish’d for mair than a heart that is true.