The summer it was smiling all nature look'd gay, When Jenny was attending on auld Robin Grey; For he was sick at heart and had na friend beside, But only me poor Jenny who newly was his bride. Ah! Jenny I shall die he cry'd as sure as I had birth, Then see my poor auld bones pray laid in the earth, And be a widow for my sake a twelvemonth & a day And I will leave whate'er belongs to auld Robin Grey.
I laid poor Robin in the earth as decent as I could, And shed a tear upon his grave for he was very guid. I took my rock all in my hand and in my cot I sigh'd, Ah wae's me what shall I do since poor auld Robin dy'd. Search every part throughout the land and none like me (portion ?) I'm ready e'en to ban the day that I was born For Jemmy all I lov'd on earth ah! he is gone away, My father dead and my mither's dead and ehe auld Robin Grey.
I rose up with the morning sun and spun all setting day And one whole year of widowhood I mourned for Robin Grey I did the duty of a wife both kind and constant too. Let every one example take and Jenny's plan pursue; I thought that Jemmy he was dead or he to me was lost And all my fond and youthful love entirely was (crost ?) I try'd to sing, I try'd to laugh and pass the time away For I had ne'er friend alive since dy'd old Robin Grey.
Although the merry bells rang round I could na guess the cause But Rodney was the man they say that gained so much (-----?) I doubted if the tale was true till Jemmy came to me, And shew'd a purse of golden ore and said it is for thee And Robin Grey I find is dead and still your heart is true. Then take me Jenny to your arms and I will be so too. (Mess?) John shall join us at the Kirk, we'll be blyth & gay, I blushed, consented and reply'd, adieu to Robin Grey.
Script of the old illustrated broadside hard to read, The name spelled Grey throughout.
Bodleian Library, Harding B21(58). No date or printer named.