Huntingtower (When Ye Gang Awa, Jamie)
18th Century
Child Ballad 232
Jeanie:
When ye gang awa, Jamie
Far across the sea, laddie,
When ye gang to Germanie,
What will ye send to me, laddie?
Jamie:
I'll send ye a braw new gown, Jeanie,
I'll send ye a braw new gown, lassie,
And it shall be o' silk and gowd,
Wi' Valenciennes set round, lassie.
Jeanie:
That's nae gift ava, Jamie,
That's nae gift ava, laddie,
There's ne'er a gown in a' the land,
I'd like when ye're awa, laddie.
Jamie:
When I come back again, Jeanie,
When I come again, lassie,
I'll bring wi' me o' gallant gay,
To be your ain gude man, lassie.
Jeanie:
Be my gudeman yoursel', Jamie,
Be my gudeman yoursel', laddie,
And tak' me ower to Germanie,
Wi' you at hame to dwell, laddie.
Jamie:
I dinna ken how that wad do, Jeanie,
I dinna see how that can be, lassie,
For I've a wife and bairnies three,
And I'm not sure how ye'd agree, lassie.
Jeanie:
Ye should hae telt me that in time, Jamie,
Ye should hae telt me that lang syne, laddie,
For had I kent o' your fause heart,
Ye ne'er had gotten mine, laddie.
Jamie:
Your een were like a spell, Jeanie,
Your een were like a spell, lassie,
That ilka day betwitch'd me sae,
I couldna help mysel', lassie.
Jeanie:
Gae back to your wife and hame, Jamie,
Gae back to your bairnies three, laddie,
And I will pray they ne'er may thole
A broken heart like me, laddie.
Jamie:
Dry that tearfu' e'e, Jeanie,
Dry that tearfu' e'e, lassie,
I've neither wife nor bairnies three,
And I'll wed none but thee, lassie.
Jeanie:
Think weel, for fear ye rue, Jamie,
Think weel, for fear ye rue, laddie;
For I have neither gowd nor lands,
To be a match for you, laddie.
Jamie:
Blair in Athol's mine, Jeanie,
Little Dunkeld is mine, lassie,
St. Johnstoun's bower, and Huntingtower,
And a' that's mine is thine lassie.
DayPoems Poem No. 2529
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/2529.html">Huntingtower (When Ye Gang Awa, Jamie) by Anonymous</a>
The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor
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