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| A HAPPY bit hame this auld world would be | |
| If men, when they ’re here, could make shift to agree, | |
| An’ ilk said to his neighbor, in cottage an’ ha’, | |
| “Come, gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’.” | |
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| I ken na why ane wi’ anither should fight, | 5 |
| When to ’gree would make ae body cosie an’ right, | |
| When man meets wi’ man, ’t is the best way ava, | |
| To say, “Gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’.” | |
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| My coat is a coarse ane, an’ yours may be fine, | |
| And I maun drink water, while you may drink wine; | 10 |
| But we baith ha’e a leal heart, unspotted to shaw: | |
| Sae gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’. | |
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| The knave ye would scorn, the unfaithfu’ deride; | |
| Ye would stand like a rock, wi’ the truth on your side; | |
| Sae would I, an’ naught else would I value a straw: | 15 |
| Then gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’. | |
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| Ye would scorn to do fausely by woman or man; | |
| I haud by the right aye, as weel as I can; | |
| We are ane in our joys, our affections, an’ a’: | |
| Come, gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’. | 20 |
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| Your mither has lo’ed you as mithers can lo’e; | |
| An’ mine has done for me what mithers can do; | |
| We are ane high an’ laigh, an’ we shouldna be twa: | |
| Sae gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’. | |
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| We love the same simmer day, sunny and fair; | 25 |
| Hame! oh, how we love it, an’ a’ that are there! | |
| Frae the pure air of heaven the same life we draw: | |
| Come, gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’. | |
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| Frail shakin’ auld age will soon come o’er us baith, | |
| An’ creeping alang at his back will be death; | 30 |
| Syne into the same mither-yird we will fa’: | |
| Come, gi’e me your hand,—we are brethren a’. | |
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