[From Stenhouse in 'Illustrations to SMM']

Ca' the yowes to the Knowes.

Mr. Stephen Clarke took down this song [SMM #264] in 1787, when Burns and he were spending an evening with the Rev. Mr Clunie. Burns, however, added two stanzas to the song, and made several alterations on the old verses, but not in his happiest manner. The old verses follow

Ca' the yowes to the knowes,
Ca' them where the heather growes,
Ca' them where the burnie rowes,
My bonnie dearie.

Will ye gang down yon water side,
That thro' the glen does saftly glide,
And I sall row thee in my plaid,
My bonnie dearie?
Ca' the yowes, &c.

Ye sall hae the rings and ribbons meet,
Calf-leather shoon upon your feet,
And in my bosom ye sall sleep,
My bonnie dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

I was brought up at nae sic school,
My shepherd lad, to play the fool,
Nor sit the livelong day in dool,
Lanely and irie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

Yon yowes and lammies on the plain,
Wi' a' the gear my dad did hain,
I'se gie thee, if thou'lt be mine ain,
My bonnie dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

Come weel, come wae, whate'er betide,
Gin ye'll prove true, I'se be your bride,
And ye sall row me in your plaid,
My winsome dearie.
Ca' the yowes, &c.

............................................

Stenhouse's note goes on to quote from Burns' letter of Sept., 1794, and give the text of Burns song there, as provided by Murray above. Stenhouse made no mention of where he acquired what he says are the old verses here.

Sandy, I was also at UW for most of the 1950's, and did a little back-packing and climbing in the Olympics and Cascades. I was also one of the ticket takers for events at the Student Union Bldg, so got to hear the early Brothers Four concerts. Bremerton was home.