A hame to me was Lockerbie when half its roofs were theek,
An’ jeests, an’ jaums, an’ gapin’ lums, a’ black-japann’t wi’ reek;
Whan monie were the middens nerr the whunstane-causey’t street;
But cosie aye its hearthstanes lay afore the stranger’s feet.
Than Lockerbie had sichts to see at race times an’ at fairs,
Wi’ Jocks an’ Jeans, strang chiel’s an’ queans, i’ scores an’ scores o’ pairs;
An’ gledging oot the roads aboot or the fair had weel begun,
We’d watch the braw, braw lasses a’ pu’ on their hose an’ shune.
I wadna’ gie aul’ Lockerbie for ony toon I ken,
For kindly were the kimmers there, an’ kindly too the men,—