As Tammie glowr'd, amaz'd, and curious,
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious;
The piper loud and louder blew;
The dancers quick and quicker flew;
They reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit, [linked]
Till ilka, carlin swat and reekit, [beldam, steamed]
And coost her duddies to the wark, [cast, rags, work]
And linkit at it in her sark! [tripped deftly, chemise]
Now Tam, O Tam! had thae been queans, [those, girls]
A' plump and strapping in their teens;
Their sarks, instead o' creeshie flannen, [greasy flannel]
Been snaw-white seventeen hunder linen![21]
Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair, [These trousers]
That ance were plush, o' gude blue hair,
I wad hae gi'en them off my hurdies, [buttocks]
For ae blink o' the bonnie burdies! [maidens]
But wither'd beldams, auld and droll,
Rigwoodie hags wad spean a foal, [Withered (?), wean]
Louping and flinging on a crummock, [Leaping, cudgel]
I wonder didna turn thy stomach.
But Tam kent what was what fu' brawlie: [full well]
There was ae winsome wench and walie [choice]
That night enlisted in the core,
Lang after kent on Carrick shore!
(For mony a beast to dead she shot, [death]
And perish'd mony a bonnie boat,
And shook baith meikle corn and bear, [barley]
And kept the country-side in fear.
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