Had I The Wyte
1.
Had I the wyte? had I the wyte?
Had I the wyte? she bade me!
She watch'd me by the hie-gate side,
And up the loan she shaw'd me;
And when I wadna venture in,
A coward loon she ca'd me!
Had Kirk and State been in the gate,
I'd lighted when she bade me.
2.
Sae craftilie she took me ben
And bade me mak nae clatter: -
' For our ramgunshoch, glum guidman
Is o'er ayont the water.'
Whae'er shall say I wanted grace
When I did kiss and dawte her,
Let him be planted in my place,
Syne say I was the fauter!
3.
Could I for shame, could I for shame,
Could I for shame refus'd her?
And wadna manhood been to blame
Had I unkindly used her?
He claw'd her wi' the ripplin-kame,
And blae and bluidy bruis'd her -
When sic a husband was frae hame,
What wife but wad excus'd her!
4.
I dighted ay her een sae blue,
And bann'd the cruel randy,
And, weel I wat, her willin mou'
Was sweet as sugarcandie.
At gloamin-shot, it was, I wot,
I lighted - on the Monday,
But I cam thro' the Tysday's dew
To wanton Willie's brandy.

Had I The Blame (Was I To Blame)

Was I to blame? was I to blame?
Was I to blame? she asked me!
She watched me by the highway side,
And up the lane she showed me;
And when I would not venture in,
A coward lad she called me!
Had Church and State been in the way,
I would have scorned when she bade me.

So craftily she led me in
And asked me to make no noise: -
' For our surly, glum husband
Is over beyond the water.'
Whoever shall say I wanted grace
When I did kiss and fondle her,
Let him be planted in my place,
Then say I was the transgressor!

Could I for shame, could I for shame,
Could I for shame refused her?
And would not manhood been to blame
Had I unkindly used her?
He clawed her with the ripplin-comb,
And blue and bloody bruised her -
When such a husband was from home,
What wife but would have excused her!

I wiped away her eyes so blue,
And cursed the cruel scoundrel,
And, well I know, her willing mouth
Was sweet as sugar-candy.
At sunset, it was, I know,
I scorned - on the Monday,
But I came through the Tuesday's dew
To wanton Willie's brandy.