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O, Merry Hae I Been
TUNE: Lord Breadalbane'e March

 

Burns Original

Standard English Translation


O, Merry Hae I Been

1.
O, merry hae I been teethin a heckle,
An' merry hae I been shapin a spoon!
O, merry hae I been cloutin a kettle,
An' kissin my Katie when a' was done!
O, a' the lang day I ca' at my hammer,
An' a' the lang day I whistle an' sing!
O, a' the lang night I cuddle my kimmer,
An' a' the lang night as happy's a king!
2.
Bitter in dool, I lickit my winnins
O', marrying Bess, to gie her a slave.
Blest be the hour she cool'd in her linens,
And blythe be the bird that sings on her grave!
Come to my arms, my Katie, my Katie,
An' come to my arms, and kiss me again!
Drucken or sober, here's to thee, Kate,
And blest be the day I did it again!


O, Merry Have I Been


O, merry have I been teething a heckling comb,
And merry have I been shaping a spoon!
O, merry have I been patching a kettle,
And kissing my Katie when all was done!
O, all the long day I knock at my hammer,
And all the long day I whistle and sing!
O, all the long night I cuddle my mistress,
And all the long night as happy as a king!

Bitter in sorrow, I supped my earnings
Of, marrying Bess, to give her a slave.
Blessed be the hour she cooled in her burial linens,
And blithe be the bird that sings on her grave!
Come to my arms, my Katie, my Katie,
And come to my arms, and kiss me again!
Drunken or sober, here is to you, Katie,
And blessed be the day I did it again!

 

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