John Come Kiss Me Now
written in 1792
John Come Kiss Me Now - meaning Summary
Direct Playful Courtship
This short Scots lyric is a direct, playful declaration of desire and courtship. The speaker repeatedly urges John to kiss her immediately, using a brisk refrain that creates urgency and intimacy. She contrasts elaborate or indirect wooing with her own preference for straightforward physical affection and mutual pleasure, insisting on making him "her gudeman." The tone is candid and flirtatious rather than reflective, celebrating earthy, reciprocal love. The poem’s plain language and repetition make its message immediate and easy to grasp for a first-time reader.
Read Complete AnalysesO John, come kiss me now, now, now; O John, my luve, come kiss me now; O John, come kiss me by and by, For weel ye ken the way to woo. O some will court and compliment, And ither some will kiss and daut; But I will mak o' my gudeman, My ain gudeman, it is nae faute. O some will court and compliment, And ither some will prie their mou, And some will hause in ithers arms, And that's the way I like to do. O John, come kiss me now, now, now; O John, my luve, come kiss me now; O John, come kiss me by and by, For weel ye ken the way to woo.
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