Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

216 . Song—Duncan Davison

THERE was a lass, they ca’d her Meg,

And she held o’er the moors to spin;

There was a lad that follow’d her,

They ca’d him Duncan Davison.

The moor was dreigh, and Meg was skeigh,

Her favour Duncan could na win;

For wi’ the rock she wad him knock,

And aye she shook the temper-pin.

As o’er the moor they lightly foor,

A burn was clear, a glen was green,

Upon the banks they eas’d their shanks,

And aye she set the wheel between:

But Duncan swoor a haly aith,

That Meg should be a bride the morn;

Then Meg took up her spinning-graith,

And flang them a’ out o’er the burn.

We will big a wee, wee house,

And we will live like king and queen;

Sae blythe and merry’s we will be,

When ye set by the wheel at e’en.

A man may drink, and no be drunk;

A man may fight, and no be slain;

A man may kiss a bonie lass,

And aye be welcome back again!