| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | John Anderson, My Jo | | By Robert Burns (1759–1796) |
| | (From The Masque (2nd ed., p. 292); also in Merry Muses of Caledonia) |
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JOHN ANDERSON, my jo, John, | |
| I wonder what ye mean, | |
| To lie sae lang i’ the mornin’, | |
| And sit sae late at e’en? | |
| Ye’ll bleer a’ your een, John, | 5 |
| And why do ye so? | |
| Come sooner to your bed at e’en, | |
| John Anderson, my jo. | |
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| John Anderson, my jo, John, | |
| When first that ye began, | 10 |
| Ye had as good a tail-tree | |
| As ony ither man; | |
| But now it’s waxen wan, John, | |
| And aft requires my helping hand, | |
| John Anderson, my jo. | 15 |
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| When we were young and yauld, John, | |
| We’ve lain out-owre the dyke, | |
| And O! it was a fine thing | |
| To see your hurdies fyke;— | |
| To see your hurdies fyke, John, | 20 |
| And strike the risin’ blow; | |
| ’Twas then I lik’d your chanter-pipe, | |
| John Anderson, my jo. | |
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| John Anderson, my jo, John, | |
| You’re welcome when you please; | 25 |
| It’s either in the warm bed, | |
| Or else aboon the claes. | |
| Do ye your part aboon, John, | |
| And trust to me below; | |
| I’ve twa gae-ups for your gae-down, | 30 |
| John Anderson, my jo. | |
| |
| When ye come on before, John, | |
| See that ye do your best; | |
| When I begin to haud ye, | |
| See that ye grip me fast; | 35 |
| See that ye grip me fast, John, | |
| Until that I cry “Oh!” | |
| Your back shall crack, or I do that, | |
| John Anderson, my jo. | |
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| I’m backet like a salmon, | 40 |
| I’m breastit like a swan; | |
| My wyme is like a down-cod, | |
| My waist ye weel may span; | |
| My skin frae tap to tae, John, | |
| Is like the new fa’n snow, | 45 |
| And it’s a’ for your conveniency, | |
| John Anderson, my jo. | | | |
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