One night as I did wander,
When corn begins to shoot,
I sat me down to ponder
Upon an auld tree-root:
Auld Ayr ran by before me,
And bicker'd to the seas;
A cushat crooded o'er me,
That echoed through the trees.

One night as I did wander,
When corn begins to shoot,
I sat me down to ponder
Upon an old tree-root:
Old (river) Ayr ran by before me,
And hastened to the seas;
A wild pigeon cooed over me,
That echoed through the trees.