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| ILK lassie has a laddie she lo’es abune the rest, | |
| Ilk lassie has a laddie, if she like to confess ’t, | |
| That is dear unto her bosom, whatever be his trade; | |
| But my lover’s aye the laddie that wears the crook and plaid. | |
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| Ilk morn he climbs the mountains, his fleecy flocks to view, | 5 |
| And hears the laverocks chanting, new sprung frae ’mang the dew; | |
| His bonnie wee bit doggie, sae frolicsome and glad, | |
| Rins aye before the laddie that wears the crook and plaid. | |
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| And when that he is wearied, and lies upon the grass, | |
| What if that in his plaidie he hide a bonnie lass?— | 10 |
| Nae doubt there’s a preference due to every trade, | |
| But commend me to the laddie that wears the crook and plaid. | |
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| And when in summer weather he is upon the hill, | |
| He reads in books of history that learns him meikle skill; | |
| There’s nae sic joyous leisure to be had at ony trade | 15 |
| Save that the laddie follows that wears the crook and plaid. | |
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| What though in storms o’ winter part o’ his flock should die, | |
| My laddie is aye cheery, and why should not I? | |
| The prospect o’ the summer can weel mak’ us glad; | |
| Contented is the lassie that wears the crook and plaid. | 20 |
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| King David was a shepherd while in the prime o’ youth, | |
| And following the flocks he pondered upon the truth; | |
| And when he came to be a king, and left his former trade, | |
| ’Twas an honour to the laddie that wears the crook and plaid. | |
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