my talent misteuk,
But what will ye hae of a fool? [have]

For drink I would venture my neck;
A hizzie's the half o' my craft; [wench]
But what could ye other expect,
Of ane that's avowedly daft? [crazy]

I ance was tied up like a stirk, [bullock]
For civilly swearing and quaffing;
I ance was abused i' the kirk, [rebuked]
For touzling a lass i' my daffin. [rumpling, fun]

Poor Andrew that tumbles for sport,
Let naebody name wi' a jeer;
There's even, I'm tauld, i' the Court,
A tumbler ca'd the Premier.

Observ'd ye yon reverend lad
Maks faces to tickle the mob?
He rails at our mountebank squad--
It's rivalship just i' the job!

And now my conclusion I'll tell,
For faith! I'm confoundedly dry;
The chiel that's a fool for himsel', [fellow]
Gude Lord! he's far dafter than I.

Recitativo

Then niest outspak a raucle carlin, [next, rough beldam]
Wha kent fu' weel to cleek the sterling. [steal, cash]
For mony a pursie she had hookit,
An' had in mony a well been dookit; [ducked]
Her love had been a Highland laddie,
But weary fa' the waefu' Woodie! [woe betide, gallows]
Wi' sighs and sobs, she thus began
To wail her braw John Highlandman:--

Air

TUNE: O An' Ye Were Dead, Guidman

A Highland lad my love was born,
The Lalland laws he held in scorn; [Lowland]
But he still was faithfu' to his clan,
My gallant braw John Highlandman.

CHORUS

Sing hey, my braw John Highlandman!
Sing ho, my braw John Highlandman!
There's no a lad in a' the lan'
Was match for my John Highlandman.

With his philibeg an' tartan plaid, [kilt]
And gude claymore down by his side, [two-handed sword]
The ladies' hearts he did trepan,
My gallant braw John Highlandman.

We ranged a' from Tweed to Spey,
And lived like lords and ladies gay;
For a Lalland face he feared none,
My gallant braw John Highlandman.

They banish'd him beyond the sea;
But ere the bud was on the tree,
Adown my cheeks the pearls ran,
Embracing my John Highlandman.

But och! they catch'd him at the last,
And bound him in a dun