J. C. Squire, ed. A Book of Women’s Verse. 1921.
By Lady Anne (Lindsay) Barnard (17501825)Auld Robin Gray
W
And a’ the warld to rest are gane,
The waes o’ my heart fa’ in showers frae my e’e,
While my gudeman lies sound by me.
But saving a crown he had naething else beside:
To make the crown a pund, young Jamie gaed to sea;
And the crown and the pund were baith for me.
When my father brak his arm, and the cow was stown awa’;
My mother she fell sick, and my Jamie at the sea—
And auld Robin Gray came a-courtin’ me.
I toil’d day and night, but their bread I couldna win;
Auld Rob maintained them baith, and wi’ tears in his e’e
Said ‘Jennie, for their sakes, O, marry me!’
But the wind it blew high, and the ship it was a wrack;
His ship it was a wrack—why didna Jamie dee?
Or why do I live to cry, Wae ’s me!
But she looked in my face till my heart was like to break
They gied him my hand, but my heart was at the sea;
Sae auld Robin Gray he was gudeman to me.
When mournfu’ as I sat on the stane at the door,
I saw my Jamie’s wraith, for I couldna think it he,
Till he said ‘I’m come hame to marry thee’.
We took but ae kiss, and I bade him gang away:
I wish that I were dead, but I’m no like to dee;
And why was I born to say, Wae ’s me!
I daurna think on Jamie, for that wad be a sin;
But I’ll do my best a gude wife to be,
For auld Robin Gray he is kind unto me.