Poem by Robert Burns

On a Scotch Bard, Gone to the West Indies

A’ YE wha live by sowps o’ drink,
A’ ye wha live by crambo-clink,
A’ ye wha live an’ never think,
    Come mourn wi’ me!
Our billie’s gi’en us a’ a jink,
    An’ owre the sea.

Lament him, a’ ye rantin core,
Wha dearly like a random-splore;
Nae mair he’ll join the merry roar,
    In social key;
For now he’s taen anither shore,
    An’ owre the sea!

The bonnie lasses weel may wiss him,
And in their dear petitions place him;
The widows, wives, an’ a’ may bless him,
    Wi’ tearfu’ e’e;
For weel I wat they’ll sairly miss him
    That’s owre the sea!

O Fortune, they hae room to grumble!
Hadst thou taen aff some drowsy bummle,
Wha can do nought but fyke an’ fumble,
    ‘Twad been nae plea;
But he was gleg as ony wumble,
    That’s owre the sea!

Auld cantie Kyle may weepers wear,
An’ stain them wi’ the saut saut tear:
‘Twill mak her poor auld heart, I fear,
    In flinders flee;
He was her Laureat mony a year,
    That’s owre the sea!

He saw misfortune’s cauld nor-west
Lang mustering up a bitter blast;
A jillet brak his heart at last-
    Ill may she be!
So took a berth afore the mast,
    An’ owre the sea.

To tremble under Fortune’s cummock
On scarce a bellyfu’ o’ drummock,
Wi’ his proud independent stomach,
    Could ill agree;
So row’d his hurdies in a hammock,
    An’ owre the sea.

He ne’er was gi’en to great misguidin’,
Yet coin his pouches wad na bide in;
Wi’ him it ne’er was under hidin’,
    He dealt it free:
The Muse was a’ that he took pride in,
    That’s owre the sea.

Jamaica bodies, use him weel,
An’ hap him in a cozie biel;
Ye’ll find him aye a dainty chiel,
    And fu’ o’ glee;
He wad ma wrang’d the vera deil,
    That’s owre the sea.

Fareweel, my rhyme-composing billie!
Your native soil was right ill-willie;
But may ye flourish like a lily,
    Now bonnilie!
I’ll toast ye in my hindmost guile,
    Tho’ owre the sea!

1. The Rantin’ Dog the Daddie O’t
2. Could Aught of Song
3. Nithsdale’s Welcome Hame
4. Fairest Maid on Devon Banks
5. Behold the Hour

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