The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #47638   Message #711699
Posted By: dick greenhaus
16-May-02 - 01:10 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Comin Through the Rye (modern)
Subject: Lyr Add: COMIN' THRO' THE RYE (Burns' bawdy text)
Well, the version Burns collected and the one on which he based his "polite" version went:
COMIN' THRO' THE RYE
(Burns' bawdy text)

O gin a body meet a body
Comin' thro' the rye;
Gin a body f**k a body
Need a body cry.

Comin' thro' the rye, my jo,
An' comin' thro' the rye,
She fand a staun o' staunin' graith
Comin' thro' the rye.

Gin a body meet a body
Comin' thro' the glen
Gin a body f**k a body
Need the warld ken.

Gin a body meet a body
Comin' thro' the grain.
Gin a body f**k a body
C**t's a body's aim.

Gin a body meet a body
by a body's sel,
When na body f**ks a body
Wad a body tell

Mony a body meets a body
They dare na weel avow
Mony a body f**ks a body,
Ye Wadna think it true.

From Merry Muses of Caledonia, Burns note: the discreet typography is as published. I think it's dumb, but I've left it because I'm not sure how Burns would have spelled either "fuck" or "cunt".