Complete Songs Of Robert Burns - online book

360+ songs with lyrics, sheet music, historical notes & glossary.

	178            TONE-POETRY OF ROBERT BURNS
	No. 199. Had I the wyte.
	Tune : Come kiss with me Orpheus Caledonius, 1733, No. 39.
	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. 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 fautor! 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 bruised her— When sic a husband was frae hame, What wife but wad excused her?