O can ye labour lea

written in 1792

O, can ye labour lea, young man, O, can ye labour lea? Gae back the gate ye came again Ye's never scorn me! I fee'd a man at Martinmas Wi' airle-pennies three; But a' the faut I had to him He couldna labour lea. O, clappin's guid in Febarwar, An' kissin's sweet in May; But what signifies a young man's love, An't dinna last for ay? O, kissin is the key o' love An' clappin is the lock; An' makin of's the best thing That e'er a young thing got! O, can ye labour lea, young man, O, can ye labour lea? Gae back the gate ye came again Ye's never scorn me!