Familiar Songs - Their Authors & Histories

300 traditional songs, inc sheet music with full piano accompaniment & lyrics.

	520	OUR FAMILIAR SONGS.
	At length I reach'd the bonnie glen Where early life I sported; I pass'd the mill and trystin' thorn Where Nancy oft I courted. Wha spied I but my ain dear maid Down by her mother's dwelling! And turned me round to hide the flood That in my een was swelling. Wi' altered voice, quoth I, "Sweet lass, Sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom; Oh ! happy, happy may he be That's dearest to thy bosom! My purse is light, I've far to gang, And fain wad be thy lodger, I've served my king and country lang; Tak' pity on a sodger." Sae wistfully she gazed on me, And lovelier was than ever; Quo' she, " A sodger ance I lo'ed, Forget him shall I never! Our humble cot and namely fare. Ye freely shall partake it; That gallant badge, the dear cockade, Vere welcome for the sake o't."		She gazed —she reddened like a rose, Syne pale as ony lily; She sank within my arms, and cried, " Art thou my ain dear Willie ? " " By Him who made yon sun and sky, By Whom true love's regarded, I am the man! and thus may still True lovers be rewarded. " The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame, And find thee still true-hearted; Though poor in gear, we're rich in love, And mair we'se ne'er be parted." Quo' she, " My grandsire left me gowd, A mailin' plenish'd fairly; Then come, my faithfu' sodger lad, Thou'rt welcome to it dearly." For gold the merchant ploughs the main, The farmer ploughs the manor, But glory is the sodger's prize, The sodger's wealth is honor. The brave poor sodger ne'er despise, Nor count him as a stranger; Remember he's his country's stay, In day and hour o' danger.