Farewell, old Coila's hills and dales,
Her heathy moors and winding vales;
The scenes where wretched fancy roves,
Pursuing past unhappy loves!
Farewell, my friends! Farewell, my foes!
My peace with these, my love with those;
The bursting tears my heart declare,
Farewell, my bonnie banks of Ayr!
ON A SCOTCH BARD, GONE TO THE WEST INDIES
A' ye wha live by sowps o' drink, [sups]
A' ye wha live by crambo-clink, [rhyme]
A' ye wha live an' never think,
Come mourn wi' me!
Our billie's gi'en us a' a jink, [fellow, the slip]
An' owre the sea.
Lament him, a' ye rantin core, [jovial set]
Wha dearly like a random-splore; [frolic]
Nae mair he'll join the merry roar,
In social key;
For now he's taen anither shore,
An' owre the sea!
The bonnie lasses weel may wiss him, [wish for]
And in their dear petitions place him,
The widows, wives, an' a' may bless him
Wi' tearfu' e'e;
For weel I wat they'll sairly miss him [wot, sorely]
That's owre the sea!
O Fortune, they hae room to grumble!
Hadst thou taen aff some drowsy bummle, [drone]
Wha can do nought but fyke an' fumble, [fuss]
'Twad been nae plea; [grievance]
But he was gleg as ony wumble, [lively, auger]
That's owre the sea!
Auld cantie Kyle may weepers wear, [cheerful, mourning bands]
An' stain them wi' the saut, saut tear: [salt]
'Twill mak her poor auld heart, I fear,
In flinders flee; [fragments]
He was her Laureat mony a year,
That's owre the sea!
He saw misfortune's cauld nor-west
Lang mustering up a bitter blast;
A jillet brak his heart at last-- [jilt]
Ill may she be!
So took a berth afore the mast,
An' owre the sea.
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