Poortith Cauld and Restless Love
Tune—“Cauld Kail in Aberdeen.”
O poortith cauld, and restless love,Ye wrack my peace between ye;Yet poortith a’ I could forgive,An ’twere na for my Jeanie.
Chorus—O why should Fate sic pleasure have,Life’s dearest bands untwining?Or why sae sweet a flower as loveDepend on Fortune’s shining?
The warld’s wealth, when I think on,It’s pride and a’ the lave o’t;O fie on silly coward man,That he should be the slave o’t!O why, &c.
Her e’en, sae bonie blue, betrayHow she repays my passion;But prudence is her o’erword aye,She talks o’ rank and fashion.O why, &c.
O wha can prudence think upon,And sic a lassie by him?O wha can prudence think upon,And sae in love as I am?O why, &c.
How blest the simple cotter’s fate!He woos his artless dearie;The silly bogles, wealth and state,Can never make him eerie,O why, &c.