Can Ye Sew Cushions?

O Can ye sew cushions? And Can ye sew sheets?
And can ye sing ba-la-loo When the bairn greets?

cho: And hee and baw, birdie, hee and baw lamb
Hee and baw birdie, my bonnie wee lamb.
Hee, O, wee, O, what would I do wi' you?
Black's the life that I lead wi' you!
Mony o' you, little for to gie you
Hee, O, wee, O, what would I do wi' you?

I biggit the cradle all on the tree top
And the wind it did blaw, and the cradle did rock.

cho:

Now hush-a-ba lambie, and hush-a-ba, dear
Now hush-a-ba, lambie, thy minnie is here.
cho:

The wild wind is ravin', thy minnie's heart's sair;
The wild wind is ravin', and you dinna care.

cho:

Sing ba-la-loo, lambie, sing ba-la-loo, dear,
Does the wee lambie ken that his daddie's no here?

cho:

Ye're rockin' fu' sweetly upon my warm knee
But your daddie's a-rockin' upon the saut sea.

cho:

Note: First printed in 1803 in Johnson's Scots Musical Museum. This version
collected by Isla Cameron.
RG