I Am a Wee Laddie

I am a wee laddie, hard, hard is my fate,
I have travelled this country both early and late
I courted a wee Iass, I did her adore;
Though she has denied me, I'll try her once more.

At the late hour of midnight when souls are at rest,
I think of my true love with hope in my breast,
Saying, "The time it is coming and that you will see,
When I'll be with my true love and she'll be with me."

"Oh, it's Johnnie, dear Johnnie, such things cannot be,
As to be with your true love and you be with me,
For to leove father, mother, their poor hearts would break,
For to leave sisters, brothers, and follow a rake."

"Oh, it's Molly, dear Molly, you're not much to blame,
When first I came courting, you scarce were eighteen,
Your parents did slight me because I loved so,
And for that very reason I love where you go.

"Oh, it's green grows the holly and so does the rue,
And I'm very sorry at parting with you,
But we'll have merry meetings, our joys to renew,
And we'll leave o'er the false love and start on the new."

From Songs of the People, Henry
Note: see also Green Grow the Lilacs
RG