Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/262
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THE SONGS OF BURNS.
SWEET FA'S THE EVE.
TUNE—'CRAIGIEBURN-WOOD.'
Sweet fa's the eve on Craigie-burn,And blythe awakes the morrow,But a' the pride o' spring's returnCan yield me nocht but sorrow.
I see the flowers and spreading trees,I hear the wild birds singing;But what a weary wight can please,And care his bosom wringing?
Fain, fain would I my griefs impart,Yet dare na for your anger;But secret love will break my heart,If I conceal it langer.
If thou refuse to pity me,If thou shalt love anither,When yon green leaves fa' frae the tree,Around my grave they'll wither.
O LASSIE, ART THOU SLEEPING YET?
TUNE—'LET ME IN THIS AE NIGHT.'
O lassie, art thou sleeping yet?Or art thou wakin, I would wit?For love has bound me hand and foot,And I would fain be in, jo.
CHORUS.O let me in this ae night,This ae, ae, ae night;For pity's sake this ae night,O rise and let me in, jo.
Thou hear'st the winter wind and weet,Nae star blinks thro' the driving sleet;Tak pity on my weary feet,And shield me frae the rain, jo.O let me in, &c.
The bitter blast that round me blaws,Unheeded howls, unheeded fa's;The cauldness o' thy heart's the causeOf a' my grief and pain, jo.O let me in, &c.
HER ANSWER.O tell na me o' wind and rain,Upbraid na me wi' cauld disdain !Gae back the gait ye cam again,I winna let you in, jo.
CHORUS.I tell you now this ae night,This ae, ae, ae night;And ance for a' this ae night,I winna let you in, jo.
The snellest blast, at mirkest hours,That round the pathless wand'rer pours,Is nocht to what poor she endures,That's trusted faithless man, jo.I tell you now, &c.
The sweetest flower that deck'd the mead,Now trodden like the vilest weed;Let simple maid the lesson read,The weird may be her ain, jo.I tell you now, &c.
The bird that charm'd his summer-day,Is now the cruel fowler's prey;Let witless, trusting woman sayHow aft her fate's the same, jo.I tell you now, &c.