Fye, gae rub her, rub her, rub her,
Fye, gae rub her o’er wi’ strae:
An’ gin ye meet dirty hizzie,
Fye, gae rub her o’er wi’ strae.”
THE LASS O’ LIVISTON.
The old song, in three eight-line stanzas, is well known, and has merit as to wit and humour; but it is rather unfit for insertion.—It begins,
“The Bonnie lass o’ Liviston,
Her name ye ken, her name ye ken,
And she has written in her contract
To lie her lane, to lie her lane.”
&c. &c.
THE LAST TIME I CAME O’ER THE MOOR.
Ramsay found the first line of this song, which had been preserved as the title of the charming air, and then composed the rest of the verses to suit that line. This has always a finer effect than composing English words, or words with an idea foreign to the spirit of the old title. Where old titles of songs convey any idea at all, it will generally be found to be quite in the spirit of the air.