Here is one of the versions in the Bodleian Collection.

Lyr. Add: MY BOY TAMMY

Oh, where hae ye been a' the day, my boy Tammy?
Where hae ye been a' the day, my boy Tammy?
I've been by burn and flowery brae,
Meadow green and mountain grey,
Courting o' this young thing, just come frae her mammy.

And where gat ye that young thing, my boy Tammy?
And where gat ye that young thing, my boy Tammy?
I got her down in yonder bowe,
Smiling on a broomy knowe,
Herding a wee lamb and ewe for her poor mammy.

What said you to the bonny bairn, my boy Tammy?
What said you to the bonny bairn, my boy Tammy?
I praised her een sae lovely blue,
Her dimpled chin and cherry mou',
I pree'd it aft, as ye may trow- she said she'd tell her mammy.

I held her to my beating breast, my young, my smiling lammy,
I held her to my beating breast, my young, my smiling lammy;
I hae a house, it cost me dear,
I've wealth o plenishing and gear,
Ye'll get it a'wer't ten times mair, gin ye will leave your mammy.

The smile gaed aff her bonny face- I munna leave my mammy,
The smile gaed aff her bonny face- I munna leave my mammy;
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claes,
And been my comfort a' her days;
My father's death brought mony waes- I munna leave my mammy.

We'll tak' her hame and mak' her fain, my ain kind-hearted lammy,
We'll tak' her hame and mak' her fain, my ain kind-hearted lammy;
We'll gie her meat, we'll gie her c'aes,
We'll be her comfort a' her days;
The wee thing gi'es her hand an' says- there, gang and ask my mammy!

Has she been to kirk wi' thee, my boy Tammy?
Has she been to kirk wi' thee, my boy Tammy?
She has ben to kirk wi' me,
And the tear was in her e'e-
But oh! she's but a young thing, just come frae her mammy!

Bodleian Library, Ballads Catalogue, 2806 c.11(142), no date. Firth b.27 (457/458) view 3, essentially the same, also no date. Firth b.27(59 also appears to be the same, T. Pearson, Manchester, no date.
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