Had I the wyte, had I the wyte,Had I the wyte? she bade me;She watch’d me by the hie-gate side,And up the loan she shaw’d me.4
And when I wadna venture in,A coward loon she ca’d me:Had Kirk an’ State been in the gate,I’d lighted when she bade me.8
Sae craftilie she took me ben,And bade me mak nae clatter;“For our ramgunshoch, glum gudemanIs o’er ayont the water.”12
Whae’er shall say I wanted grace,When I did kiss and dawte her,Let him be planted in my place,Syne say, I was the fautor.16
Could I for shame, could I for shame,Could I for shame refus’d her;And wadna manhood been to blame,Had I unkindly used her!20
He claw’d her wi’ the ripplin-kame,And blae and bluidy bruis’d her;When sic a husband was frae hame,What wife but wad excus’d her!24
I dighted aye her e’en sae blue,An’ bann’d the cruel randy,And weel I wat, her willin’ mouWas sweet as sugar-candie.28
At gloamin-shot, it was I wot,I lighted on the Monday;But I cam thro’ the Tyseday’s dew,To wanton Willie’s brandy.32