Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Auld Man tae the Oak Tree

Auld Man tae the Oak Tree

Auld Man tae the Oak Tree

     1.
     Says the auld man
     Tae the oak tree,
     "Young and lusty was I
     When I kenned thee.

     "I was young an lusty,
     I was fair an clear,
     Young an lusty was I
     Mony a lang year.

     "But sair failed am I,
     Sair failed noo,
     Sair failed am I
     Sin I kenned you."

     2.
     Young and souple was I, when I lap the dyke;
     Now I'm auld and frail, I douna step a syke.
        Buy broom &c.

     Young and souple was I, when at Lautherslack,
     Now I'm auld and frail, and lie at Nansie's back.
        Buy broom &c.

     Had she gien me butter, when she gae me bread,
     I wad lookit baulder, wi' my beld head.
        Buy broom &c.
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     (1) Montgomerie SNR (1946), 126 (no. 162), pretty much as
     in Ritson, Gammer Gurton's Garland ("Says t' auld man
     ti't oak tree," etc.). Bell RNB (1812) 257, has a
     slightly fuller version, thus:
I was young and lusty,
            I was fair and clear;

I was young and lusty,
            Many a long year.
                Sair fail'd hinny,
                   Sair fail'd now;
                Sair fail'd hinny,
                   Sin' I kend thou.
When I was young and lusty,
            I could loup a dyke;

But now at five and sixty,
            Cannot do the like.
                Sair fail'd hinny,
                  Sair fail'd now,
                Sair fail'd hinny,
                  Sin' I kend thou.
Then said the awd man
            To the oak tree;

Sair fail'd is 'e,
            Sin' I kend thee.
                Sair fail'd hinny,
                  Sair fail'd now;
                Sair fail'd hinny,
                  Sin' I kend thou.

     Sir Cuthbert Sharpe (Bishoprick Garland, 1834, slightly
edited--e.g. 3.3 Sair fail'd is I) says "This song is `far
north;' it is admitted in Bell's Northern Bards, and may very
possibly belong to the bishoprick, where it is well known."
Slightly fuller in Bruce and Stokoe (1882), 92, with music;
whence Whittaker (1940), 63.
     (2) Kinsley, Burns 913-14, no. 626 B; tune, "Buy Broom
     Besoms" (q.v.).  A traditional version collected by
     Burns. St. 1 comparable to Bruce & Stokoe's 2 (not
     counting chorus):

           When aw was young and lusty,
             Aw cud lowp a dyke;
           But now aw'm awd an' stiff,
             Aw can hardly step a syke.
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