Poortith Cauld And Restless Love

    1793
    poortith cauld and restless love
    tune—“cauld kail in aberdeen.”
    o poortith cauld, and restless love,
    ye wrack my peace between ye;
    yet poortith a' i could forgive,
    an 'twere na for my jeanie.
    chorus—o why should fate sic pleasure have,
    life's dearest bands untwining?
    or why sae sweet a flower as love
    depend on fortune's shining?
    the warld's wealth, when i think on,
    it's pride and a' the lave o't;
    o fie on silly coward man,
    that he should be the slave o't!
    o why, c.
    her e'en, sae bonie blue, betray
    how she repays my passion;
    but prudence is her o'erword aye,
    she talks o' rank and fashion.
    o why, c.
    o wha can prudence think upon,
    and sic a lassie by him?
    o wha can prudence think upon,
    and sae in love as i am?
    o why, c.
    how blest the simple cotter's fate!
    he woos his artless dearie;
    the silly bogles, wealth and state,
    can never make him eerie,
    o why, c.