I'm glad nobody responded to your attempts to stir things, Jim.

The following are the words as published in 1831. I'm afraid that, when I look at them again, none of the versions have any word that resembles Eskydun.


THE LASS AMONG THE HEATHER
(McWilliams)

One night as I came hame,
Frae the town o' Ballymena,
A lass I overtaen,
That was fairer than Diana,
I as't her whar she lived,
As we jogged on together
On the friendly mountain side,
She replied amang the heather.

Sweet lassie I'm in love,
Ye hae so many charms,
Then dinna let me grive,
For my breast to you warms,
The glances o' your eye,
And your form that's so clever,
I could freely wed with thee,
Dearest lassie o' the heather.

Do you think I'm sic a fool,
As to believe what you've spoken,
Na, laddie, let me tell,
You are sairly mistaken,
I'm happy, and I'm weel,
With my father and my mother,
He would be a cany chiel,
That would coax me frae the heather.

Dear lassie condescend now,
And dinna be so cruel,
I hope I'll no offend now,
My dearest, my jewel,
My heart frae love was free,
And as light as any feather,
Till this night I met with thee,
Bonny lassie o' the heather.

On the friendly mountain side,
Where the heather is blooming,
Where flocks are feeding wide,
And the streams gently running,
'Tis pleasant there to stray,
In the warm summer weather,
So you need na' bid me gae,
From my dear, my native heather.

Ah! cruel, cruel, lass now,
My heart's nearly broken,
Will you gie to me a kiss,
As a last parting token,
If I would gi'e you ane,
You would may be seek anither.
But I kissed and kissed again,
The bonny lassie o' the heather.

Now I will visit you,
So you must not deny it;
Na, that you manna do,
With a smile she replied.
But if you're late in town,
In the stormy wintry weather,
A lodging you will find,
In the cot among the heather.

O how my heart did glow,
At the kind invitation,
My heart was in a low,
O' the warmest sensation,
Since my suit she now approves,
I will shortly ask her father,
And if he does refuse,
I will steal her frae the heather.