The Impatient Lass

Tune=" Low down in the Broom."

Deuce tek the clock; click-clackin' sae
Still in a body's ear;
It tells and tells the time is past,
When Jwohnnie sud been here:

Duce tek the wheel! 't will nit rin roun-
Nae mair to-neet I'll spin;
But count each minute wi' a seegh,
Till Jwohnnie he steels in/

How neyce the spunky fire it burns,
For twee to sit bseyde!
And theer's the seat where Jwohnnie sits,
And I forget to cheyde!

My fadder, tui, how sweet he snwores!
My mudder's fast asleep-
He promis'd oft, but, oh! I fear
His word he wunnet keep!

What can it be keeps him frae me?
The ways are nit sae lang!
An' sleet an' snaw are nought at aw,
If yen wer fain to gang!

Some ither lass, wi' bonnier faice,
Has catch'd his wicked e'e,
An I'll be pointed at, at kurk-
Nay! suiner let me dee!

O durst we lasses nobbet gang,
An' sweetheart them we leyke!
I'll run to thee, my Jwohnnie, lad,
Nor stop at bog or deyke:

But custom's sec a silly think-
For men mun hae their way,
An' monnie a bonnie lassie sit,
An' wish frae day to day/

But whist!- I hear my Hwohnnie's fit-
Aye! that's his varra clog!
He steelks the faul yeat softly tui-
Oh! hang that cwoley dog!

Now hey for seeghs, an' sugar wrods,
Wi' kisses nit a few-
O but this warl's a paradise,
When lovers they pruive true!

-Anderson, Wigton Edition, Cumberland Songs, 1808, July 31st, 1802