Lyr. Add: Auld Robin Gray (Leeve)

1
Young Jamie loo'd me weel, and sought me for his Bride,
but saving a crown, he had nae thing else beside,
To mak' his crown a poun' my Jamie went to sea,
and the crown and the poun' were baith for me.
He had nae been gane but a Year and a day,
when my Father brak' his Arm & our Cow was stoun awa,
my Mither she fell sick and JAMIE at the sea,
and Auld ROBIN GRAY came a courting to me.
2
My Father couldna' work and my Mither couldna' spin,
I toiled day and night, but their bread I couldna' win,
Auld Robin fed them baith, and wi' tears in his ee
Said JENNY, for their sakes, Oh! marry me.
My heart it said na, and I look'd for JAMIE back,
But the wind it blew high, and the Ship it was a wreck,
The Ship it was a wreck, why it'na' JAMIE die?
And why do I live to say, Ah! wae's me.
3
My father sign'd me sair, my Mither didna speak,
But she looked in my face, till my heart was like to break,
So they gi'ed him my hand, tho' my heart was on the Sea,
And Auld Robin Gray is gude man to me.
I hadna' been wife a week but only four
When sitting sae mournfully at mine ain door,
I saw my JAMIE's Ghaist; for I couldna' think it he,
Till he said, I'm come back, love to marry thee.
4
Sair sair did we greet, and little could we say,
We took but ae kiss, and we tore ourselves away,
I wish I were dead; but I'm nae like to die
And why do I live to say, Ah! wae's me?
I gang like a Gaist, and I care na' to spin,
But I'll do my best a gude wife to be,
For Auld Robin Gray, is sae kind to me.

Sheet music, William Leeve, c. 1798, from Nebbe's Scotch Songs; New York.
Pp. 222-223, Nicholas E. Tawa, 1980, "Sweet Songs for gentle Americans, The Parlor Song in America, 1790-1860.