The Complete Works of Robert Burns Part 135

We'll hide the cooper behind the door, Behind the door, behind the door; We'll hide the cooper behind the door, And cover him under a mawn, O.

CLVII.

SOMEBODY.

Tune--"_For the sake of somebody._"

[Burns seems to have borrowed two or three lines of this lyric from Ramsay: he sent it to the Museum.]

I.

My heart is sair--I dare na tell-- My heart is sair for somebody; I could wake a winter night For the sake o' somebody.

Oh-hon! for somebody!

Oh-hey! for somebody!

I could range the world around, For the sake o' somebody!

II.

Ye powers that smile on virtuous love, O, sweetly smile on somebody!

Frae ilka danger keep him free, And send me safe my somebody.

Oh-hon! for somebody!

Oh-hey! for somebody!

I wad do--what wad I not?

For the sake o' somebody!

CLVIII.

THE CARDIN' O'T.

Tune--"_Salt-fish and dumplings._"

["This song," says Sir Harris Nicolas, "is in the Musical Museum, but not with Burns's name to it." It was given by Burns to Johnson in his own handwriting.]

I.

I coft a stane o' haslock woo', To make a wat to Johnny o't; For Johnny is my only jo, I lo'e him best of ony yet.

The cardin' o't, the spinnin' o't, The warpin' o't, the winnin' o't; When ilka ell cost me a groat, The tailor staw the lynin o't.

II.

For though his locks be lyart gray, And tho' his brow be beld aboon; Yet I hae seen him on a day, The pride of a' the parishen.

The cardin' o't, the spinnin' o't, The warpin' o't, the winnin' o't; When ilka ell cost me a groat, The tailor staw the lynin o't.

CLIX.

WHEN JANUAR' WIND.

Tune--"_The la.s.s that made the bed for me._"

[Burns found an old, clever, but not very decorous strain, recording an adventure which Charles the Second, while under Presbyterian rule in Scotland, had with a young lady of the house of Port Letham, and exercising his taste and skill upon it, produced the present--still too free song, for the Museum.]

I.

When Januar' wind was blawing cauld, As to the north I took my way, The mirksome night did me enfauld, I knew na where to lodge till day.

II.

By my good luck a maid I met, Just in the middle o' my care; And kindly she did me invite To walk into a chamber fair.

III.

I bow'd fu' low unto this maid, And thank'd her for her courtesie; I bow'd fu' low unto this maid, And bade her mak a bed to me.

IV.

She made the bed baith large and wide, Wi' twa white hands she spread it down; She put the cup to her rosy lips, And drank, "Young man, now sleep ye soun'."

V.

She s.n.a.t.c.h'd the candle in her hand, And frae my chamber went wi' speed; But I call'd her quickly back again To lay some mair below my head.

VI.

A cod she laid below my head, And served me wi' due respect; And to salute her wi' a kiss, I put my arms about her neck.

VII.

"Haud aff your hands, young man," she says, "And dinna sae uncivil be: If ye hae onto love for me, O wrang na my virginitie!"

VIII.