We're a' Gaun Southie, O
We're a' Gaun Southie, O - meaning Summary
Bawdy Rural Courtship
This short, ribald poem presents a comic, sexual account of rural courtship in Scots dialect. It follows Callum, who pays for and then has sexual encounters with Kirsty, and frames the action as part of communal movement toward Mauchline fair. The tone is earthy and humorous, trading on local speech and folk-song rhythms to normalize transactional intimacy and communal gossip. The poem highlights social customs and coarse humor of Burns's Ayrshire milieu rather than romantic idealization, using plain, vernacular voice to invite laughter and social recognition.
Read Complete AnalysesCallum cam to Campbell's court, An' saw ye e'er the make o't; Pay'd twenty shillings for a thing, An' never got a straik o't. We're a' gaun southie, O. We're a' gaun there; An' we're a' gaun to Mauchlin fair, To sell our pickle hair. Pay'd twenty shillings for a quine, Her name was Kirsty Lauchlan; But Callum took her by the cunt, Before the laird o' Mauchline. Callum cam to Kirsty's door, Says, Kirsty are ye sleepin'? No sae soun as ye wad trow, Ye'se get the thing ye're seekin'. Callum had a peck o' meal, Says, Kirsty, will ye draik it? She whippet off her wee white-coat, An' birket at it nakit. Bonie lassie, braw lassie, Will ye hae a soger? Then she took up her duddie sark, An' he shot in his Roger. Kind kimmer Kirsty, I loe wi' a' my heart, O, An' when there'se ony penis gaun, She'll ay get a part, O.
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