ET. 36.] CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES. 129 CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES. "I am flattered at your adopting Ca' the Yowes to the Knowes, as it was owing to me that ever it saw the light. About seven years ago, I was well acquainted with a worthy little fellow of a clergyman, a Mr. Clunie, who sang it charmingly; and, at my request, Mr. Clarke took it down from his singing. When I gave it to Johnson, I added some stanzas to the song, and mended others, but still it will not do for you. In a solitary stroll which I took to-day, I tried my hand on a few pastoral lines, following up the idea of the chorus, which I would preserve. Here it is, with all its crudities and imperfections on its head." Burns to Mr. Thomson, Sept., 1794. CHORUS. drive the ewes CA' the yowes to the knowes, Hark! the mavis' evening-sang VOL. III. 130 CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES. [1794. We'll gae down by Cluden side, O'er the waves that sweetly glide Yonder Cluden's silent towers, Ghaist nor bogle shalt thou fear ; goblin Nocht of ill may come thee near, Fair and lovely as thou art, Thou hast stown my very heart; I can die. but canna part, My bonny dearie. While waters wimple to the sea; stolen meander While day blinks in the lift sae hie; gleams Till clay-cauld death shall blin' my ee, Ye shall be my dearie. ET. 36.] SHE SAYS SHE LO'ES ME. 131 SHE SAYS SHE LO'ES ME BEST OF A'. TUNE- Onagh's Lock. SAE flaxen were her ringlets, Her eyebrows of a darker hue, Twa laughing e'en o' bonny blue: Her smiling, sae wiling, Wad make a wretch forget his wo; What pleasure, what treasure, Unto these rosy lips to grow! Like harmony her motion; Her pretty ankle is a spy Wad make a saint forget the sky. Her faultless form and graceful air; Ilk feature auld nature Declared that she could do nae mair. 132 SAW YE MY PHELY? [1794. Hers are the willing chains o' love, She says she lo'es me best of a'. Let others love the city, And gaudy show at sunny noon; The dewy eve, and rising moon, Fair beaming, and streaming, Her silver light the boughs amang; While falling, recalling, The amorous thrush concludes his sang. shaw, meandering And hear my vows o' truth and love, Sept., 1794. grove Он, saw ye my dear, my Phely? Oh, saw ye my dear, my Phely? She's down i' the grove, she's wi' a new love, She winna come hame to her Willy. ET. 36.] HOW LONG AND DREARY. 133 What says she, my dearest, my Phely? Oh, had I ne'er seen thee, my Phely! Oh, had I ne'er seen thee, my Phely! Oct., 1794. HOW LONG AND DREARY IS THE NIGHT! TUNE Cauld Kail in Aberdeen. "How long and dreary is the Night! - I met with some such words in a collection of songs somewhere, which I altered and enlarged; and to please you, and to suit your favourite air, I have taken a stride or two across my room, and have arranged it anew, as you will find on the other page." — Burns to Mr. Thomson, 19th Oct., 1794. How long and dreary is the night I restless lie frae e'en to morn, Though I were ne'er sae weary. |