The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. / With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham

by Robert Burns; Allan Cunningham

YON WILD MOSSY MOUNTAINS.

Tune—“Yon wild mossy mountains.”

[“This song alludes to a part of my private history, which is of no consequence to the world to know.” These are the words of Burns: he sent the song to the Musical Museum; the heroine is supposed to be the “Nannie,” who dwelt near the Lugar.]

I.

Yon wild mossy mountains sae lofty and wide,
That nurse in their bosom the youth o’ the Clyde,
Where the grouse lead their coveys thro’ the heather to feed,
And the shepherd tents his flock as he pipes on his reed.
Where the grouse lead their coveys thro’ the heather to feed,
And the shepherd tents his flock as he pipes on his reed.

II.

Not Gowrie’s rich valleys, nor Forth’s sunny shores,
To me hae the charms o’ yon wild, mossy moors;
For there, by a lanely and sequester’d stream,
Resides a sweet lassie, my thought and my dream.
For there, by a lanely and sequester’d stream,
Resides a sweet lassie, my thought and my dream.

III.

Amang thae wild mountains shall still be my path,
Ilk stream foaming down its ain green, narrow strath;
For there, wi’ my lassie, the day lang I rove,
While o’er us unheeded flee the swift hours o’ love.
For there wi’ my lassie, the day lang I rove,
While o’er us unheeded flee the swift hours o’ love.

IV.