Robert Tannahill (1774–1810)

GLOOMY winter’s now awa’,

Saft the westlan’ breezes blaw,

’Mang the birks o’ Stanley-shaw

The mavis sings fu’ cheerie, O!

Sweet the crawflower’s early bell

Decks Gleniffer’s dewy dell,

Blooming like thy bonnie sel’;

My young, my artless dearie, O!

Come, my lassie, let us stray

O’er Glenkilloch’s sunny brae,

Blithely spend the gowden day

’Midst joys that never weary, O!

Towering o’er the Newton wuds,

Laverocks fan the snaw-white cluds,

Siller saughs, wi’ downy buds,

Adorn the banks sae briery, O!

Round the sylvan fairy nooks

Feath’ry breckans fringe the rocks,

’Neath the brae the burnie jouks,

And ilka thing is cheerie, O!

Trees may bud, and birds may sing,

Flowers may bloom, and verdure spring,

Joy to me they canna bring,

Unless wi’ thee, my dearie, O!