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The Queen Of The Lothians Cam Cruisin To Fife
TUNE: (As Title)

 

Burns Original

Standard English Translation



The Queen Of The Lothians Cam Cruisin To Fife
1.
The Queen o' the Lothians cam cruisin to Fife,
Fal de ral, lal de ral, lario,
To see gin a wooer wad tak her for life.
Sing hey, fal lal de ral, lal de ral, lal de ral,
Hey, fal lal de ral, lairo.
2.
She had na been lang at the brow o' the hill,
Till Jockie cam down to visit Lochnell.
3.
He took the aunt to the neuk o' the ha',
Whare naebody heard, and whare naebody saw.
4.
' Madam,' he says, ' I've thought on your advice,
I wad marry your niece, but I'm fley'd she'll be nice.'
5.
' Jockie,' she says, ' the wark's done to your hand,
I've spoke to my niece, and she's at your command.'
6.
' But troth, Madam, I canna woo,
For aft I hae tried it, and ay I fa' thro'.
7.
' But, O dear Madam, and I'se wad begin,
For I'm as fley'd to do it, as it were a sin.'
8.
Jennie cam in, and Jockie ran out.
' Madam,' she says, ' what hae ye been about?'
9.
' Jenny,' she says, ' I've been workin for you,
For what do you think, Jockie's came here to woo.'
10.
' Now, Jenny, tak care, and dash na the lad,
For offers like him are na ay to be had.'
11.
' Madam, I'll tak the advice o' the wise.
I ken the lad's worth, and I own he's a prize.'
12.
Then she cries but the house, ' Jockie, come here,
Ye've naething to do but the question to spier.'
13.
The question was spier'd, and the bargain was struck,
The neebors cam in, and wish'd them gude luck.



The Queen Of The Lothians Came Cruising To Fife

The Queen of the Lothians came cruising to Fife,
Fal de ral, lal de ral, lario,
To see if a wooer (courter) would take her for life.
Sing hey, fal lal de ral, lal de ral, lal de ral,
Hey, fal lal de ral, lairo.

She had not been long at the brow (crest) of the hill,
Till Jockie cam down to visit Lochnell.

He took the aunt to the nook (corner) of the hall,
Where nobody heard, and where nobody saw.

' Madam,' he says, ' I have thought on your advice,
I would marry your niece, but I am afraid she will be nice.'

' Jockie,' she says, ' the work is done to your hand,
I have spoken to my niece, and she is at your command.'

' But troth, Madam, I cannot woo (court),
For often I have tried it, and always I fall through.

' But, O dear Madam, and I shall would begin,
For I am as afraid to do it, as it were a sin.'

Jennie came in, and Jockie ran out.
' Madam,' she says, ' what have you been about?'

' Jenny,' she says, ' I have been working for you,
For what do you think, Jockie has come here to woo (court).'

' Now, Jenny, take care, and dash not the lad,
For offers like him are not always to be had.'

' Madam, I will take the advice of the wise.
I know the lad's worth, and I own he is a prize.'

Then she cries through the house, ' Jockie, come here,
You have nothing to do but the question to ask.'

The question was asked, and the bargain was struck,
The neighbours came in, and wished them good luck.

 

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