The morning so early I looked in the glass,
And I said to myself what a handsome young lass;
My hands by my side, and I gave a ha, ha,
Come awa’, bonnie laddie, and tak’ me awa’.
—Berwickshire, A. M. Bell, Antiquary, xxx. 17.
My name is Queen Mary,
My age is sixteen,
My father’s a farmer in Old Aberdeen;
He has plenty of money to dress me in black—
There’s nae [no] bonnie laddie ’ill tack me awa’.
Next mornin’ I wakened and looked in the glass,
I said to myself, what a handsome young lass;
Put your hands to your haunches and give a ha, ha,
For there’s nae bonnie laddie will tack ye awa’.
—N. E. Scotland (Rev. W. Gregor).
My name is Queen Mary,
My age is sixteen,
My father’s a farmer in yonder green;
He’s plenty of money to dress in silk [fu’ braw’],
For there’s nae bonnie laddie can tack me awa’.
One morning I rose and I looked in the glass,
Says I to myself, I’m a handsome young lass;
My hands by my edges, and I give a ha, ha,
For there’s nae bonnie laddie t’ tack me awa’.
—Cullen (Rev. W. Gregor).
(b) The [Scottish game] is played by girls. The players join hands, form a circle with one in the centre, and dance round singing. At the words “’ill tack me awa’,” the centre player chooses another one, and the two wheel round. Then the singing proceeds. At the exclamation “ha! ha!” the players suit the action to the words of the line. In the [Cullen game] the girls stand in a row with one in front, who sings the verses and chooses another player from the line. The two then join hands and go round and round, singing the remaining verses.