Haud Awa'

Will ye gang wi' a Hielan' man
That lives amongst the hills lassie
He'll row ye in a tartan plaid
And shield ye frae a' ills lassie

What think ye o' the Hielan clan
They're sturdy, short and strong lassie,
They'll wade the winter's depth o' snaw
And never venture in lassie.

Oh haud awa, bide awa
Oh haud awa frae me laddie,
Gang tae the knowes and herd yer ewes
And tell nae tales tae me laddie.

What think ye o' the Hielan' dress
The kilt above the knee lassie,
A bonnet blue and broad claymore
Gars a' yer French dogs flee lassie.

Oh haud awa, oh bide awa
O haud awa frae me laddie,
Your bonnet blue and broad claymore
I canna bear to see laddie.

What think ye o' the Hielan' cheer
The buttermilk and whey lassie,
A share o' mutton and o' beef
Oh will ye gang wi' me lassie

Oh haud awa, oh bide awa
Oh haud awa frae me Donald,
For a' your Hielan' rareties
I canna bear to see laddie.

The deil's ma care, I'll prig nae mair
Wi' sic a silly tyke lassie, [bitch]
I'll tak the road oot owre yon hill
Ye can follow gin ye like lassie.

Oh haud a wee, oh bide a wee
Oh wyte a wee on me laddie,
There's nae a man in a' your clan
I like sae weel as thee laddie.

Oh stop a wee oh wyte a wee
Oh wyte awee on me laddie,
My silks and satins and goons o' green
Mysel' and a' be thine laddie.

Wi' heartsome glee I'll wait on thee
Since ye have been sae kind lassie,
I'll tak ye to my Hielan home
And live and die wi' thee lassie.

From the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection (Shuldham-Shaw et al)
Collected from Thomas Spense and J.W. Spence

SOF