O, FOR ANE-AND-TWENTY, TAM!
Tune—“The Moudiewort.”
[In his memoranda on this song in the Museum, Burns says simply, “This song is mine.” The air for a century before had to bear the burthen of very ordinary words.]
CHORUS.
An O, for ane-and-twenty, Tam,
An’ hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tam,
I’ll learn my kin a rattlin’ sang,
An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.
I.
They snool me sair, and haud me down,
And gar me look like bluntie, Tam!
But three short years will soon wheel roun’—
And then comes ane-and-twenty, Tam.
II.
A gleib o’ lan’, a claut o’ gear,
Was left me by my auntie, Tam,
At kith or kin I need na spier,
An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.
III.
They’ll hae me wed a wealthy coof,
Tho’ I mysel’ hae plenty, Tam;
But hear’st thou, laddie—there’s my loof—
I’m thine at ane-and-twenty, Tam.
An O, for ane-and-twenty, Tam!
An hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tam!
I’ll learn my kin a rattlin’ song,
An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.