515. Song-O let me in this ae night. Burns, Robert. 1909-14. Poems and Songs. The Harvard Classics

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

515. Song—O let me in this ae night


O LASSIE, are ye sleepin yet,
Or are ye waukin, I wad wit?
For Love has bound me hand an’ fit,
And I would fain be in, jo.

Chorus.—O let me in this ae night,	5
This ae, ae, ae night;
O let me in this ae night,
I’ll no come back again, jo!

O hear’st thou not the wind an’ weet?
Nae star blinks thro’ the driving sleet;	10
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;	15
The cauldness o’ thy heart’s the cause
Of a’ my care and pine, jo.
O let me in, &c.

HER ANSWER O tell na me o’ wind an’ rain,
Upbraid na me wi’ cauld disdain,	20
Gae back the gate ye cam again,
I winna let ye in, jo.

Chorus.—I tell you now this ae night,
This ae, ae, ae night;
And ance for a’ this ae night,	25
I winna let ye 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.	30
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.	35
I tell you now, &c.

The bird that charm’d his summer day,
Is now the cruel Fowler’s prey;
Let witless, trusting, Woman say
How aft her fate’s the same, jo!	40
I tell you now, &c.