Alfred H. Miles, ed. Women Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By Songs. I. “Saw ye Johnny Comin’?”Joanna Baillie (1762–1851)
“S
“Saw ye Johnny comin?
Wi’ his blue bonnet on his head
And his doggie runnin?
Yestreen about the gloamin time
I chanced to see him comin,
Whistling merrilly the tune
That I am a’ day hummin,” quo’ she,
“I am a’ day hummin.”
“Fee him, faither, fee him;
A’ the wark about the house
Gaes wi’ me when I see him:
A’ the wark about the house,
I gang sae lightly through it;
And though ye pay some merks o’ gear,
Hoot! ye winna rue it,” quo’ she,
“No; ye winna rue it.”
What wad I do wi’ him?
He’s ne’er a sark upon his back,
And I hae nane to gie him.”
“I hae twa sarks into my kist,
And ane o’ them I’ll gie him;
And for a merk o’ mair fee,
O, dinna stand wi’ him,” quo’ she;
“Dinna stand wi’ him.”
“Weel do I lo’e him,
The brawest lads about the place
Are a’ but haverels to him.
O fee him, faither; lang I trow
We’ve dull and dowie been;
He’ll haud the plough, thrash i’ the barn,
And crack wi’ me at e’en,” quo’ she,
“Crack wi’ me at e’en.”