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Translation
Index


My Collier Laddie
TUNE: (As Title)

 

Burns Original

Standard English Translation

My Collier Laddie
TUNE: (As Title)
1.
' O, whare live ye my bonie lass,
And tell me how they ca' ye?'
' My name,' she says, ' is Mistress Jean,
And I follow the collier laddie.'
2.
' O, see you not yon hills and dales
The sun shines on sae brawlie?
They a' are mine, and they shall be thine,
Gin ye'll leave your collier laddie!'
3.
' And ye shall gang in gay attire,
Weel buskit up sae gaudy,
And ane to wait on every hand,
Gin ye'll leave your collier laddie!'
4.
' Tho' ye had a' the sun shines on,
And the earth conceals sae lowly,
I wad turn my back on you and it a',
And embrace my collier laddie.'
5.
' I can win my five pennies in a day,
An' spend it at night fu' brawlie,
And make my bed in the collier's neuk
And lie down wi' my collier laddie.'
6.
' Loove for loove is the bargain for me,
Tho' the wee cot-house should haud me,
And the warld before me to win my bread -
And fair fa' my collier laddie!'

My Collier Lad'


O, where live you my lovely girl,
And tell me how they call (name) you?'
' My name,' she says, ' is Mistress Jean,
And I follow the collier lad.'

' O, see you not yonder hills and dales
The sun shines on so finely?
They all are mine, and they shall be yours,
If you will leave your collier lad!'

' And you shall go in gay attire,
Well dressed up so gaudy,
And one to wait on every hand,
If you will leave your collier lad!'

' Though you had all the sun shines on,
And the earth conceals so lowly,
I would turn my back on you and it all,
And embrace my collier lad.'

' I can win my five pennies in a day,
And spend it at night full finely (well),
And make my bed in the collier's corner
And lie down with my collier lad.'

' Love for love is the bargain for me,
Though the little cottage-house should hold me,
And the world before me to win my bread -
And fair fall (good befall) my collier lad!'

 

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