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

CCXI.

FAIR JEANY.

Tune—“Saw ye my father?”

[In September, 1793, this song, as well as several others, was communicated to Thomson by Burns. “Of the poetry,” he says, “I speak with confidence: but the music is a business where I hint my ideas with the utmost diffidence.”]

I.

Where are the joys I have met in the morning,
That danc’d to the lark’s early song?
Where is the peace that awaited my wand’ring,
At evening the wild woods among?

II.

No more a-winding the course of yon river,
And marking sweet flow’rets so fair:
No more I trace the light footsteps of pleasure,
But sorrow and sad sighing care.

III.

Is it that summer’s forsaken our valleys,
And grim, surly winter is near?
No, no, the bees’ humming round the gay roses,
Proclaim it the pride of the year.