Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

374 . Song—O can ye Labour Lea?

Chorus—O can ye labour lea, young man,

O can ye labour lea?

It fee nor bountith shall us twine

Gin ye can labour lea.

I FEE’D a man at Michaelmas,

Wi’ airle pennies three;

But a’ the faut I had to him,

He could na labour lea,

O can ye labour lea, &c.

O clappin’s gude in Febarwar,

An’ kissin’s sweet in May;

But my delight’s the ploughman lad,

That weel can labour lea,

O can ye labour lea, &c.

O kissin is the key o’ luve,

And clappin’ is the lock;

An’ makin’ o’s the best thing yet,

That e’er a young thing gat.

O can ye labour lea, &c.