As I went out ae May morning

written in 1792

As I went out ae may morning, A may morning it chanc'd to be; There I was aware of a weelfar'd Maid Cam linkin o'er the lea to me. O but she was a weelfar'd maid, The boniest lass that's under the sun; I spier'd gin she could fancy me, But her answer was, I am too young. To be your bride I am too young, To be your loun wad shame my kin, So therefore pray young man begone, For you never, never shall my favor win. But amang yon birks and hawthorns green, Where roses blaw and woodbines hing, O there I learn'd my bonie lass That she was not a single hour too young. The lassie blush'd, the lassie sigh'd, And the tear stood twinkling in her e'e; O kind Sir, since ye hae done me this wrang, It's pray when will ye marry me. It's of that day tak ye nae heed, For that's ae day ye ne'er shall see; For ought that pass'd between us twa, Ye had your share as weel as me. She wrang her hands, she tore her hair, She cried out most bitterlie, O what will I say to my mammie, When I gae hame wi' my big bellie! O as ye maut, so maun ye brew, And as ye brew, so maun ye tun; But come to my arms, my ae bonie lass, For ye never shall rue what ye now hae done!