I lean'd my back against an aik,
I thocht it was a trustie tree;10
But first it bowed, and syne it break,
And sae did my fause luve to me.
My mother tauld me when I was young,
That young man's love was ill to trow;
But untill her I would give nae ear,15
And alace my ain wand dings me now!
O wherefore need I busk my head?
O wherefore should I kaim my hair?
For my good lord has me forsook,
And says he'll never love me mair.20
Gin I had wist or I had kisst
That young man's love was sae ill to win,
I would hae lockt my hert wi' a key o' gowd,
And pinn'd it wi' a siller pin.
An I had kent what I ken now,25
I'd never crosst the water Tay,
But stayed still at Athole's gates;—
He would have made me his lady gay.
When lords and lairds cam to this toun,
And gentlemen o' a high degree,30
I took my auld son in my arms,
And went to my chamber pleasantlie.
But when lords and lairds [come] through this toun,
And gentlemen o' a high degree,
I must sit alane intill the dark,35
And the babie on the nurse's knee.
I had a nurse, and she was fair;
She was a dearly nurse to me;
She took my gay lord frae my side,
And used him in her companie.40
Awa, awa, thou fause Blackwood,
Aye, and an ill death may thou die!
Thou wert the first and occasion last
Of parting my gay lord and me.