---
title: "Heron Election Ballad, No. IV"
subtitle: "The Trogger"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Song"
year: "1796"
tune: "Buy Broom Besoms"
location: "Dumfries"
source: "Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns"
source_url: "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt"
canonical_url: "https://robert-burns.com/poems/heron-election-ballad-no-iv/"
---

# Heron Election Ballad, No. IV

### The Trogger

## Song
Wha will buy my troggin, fine election ware,  
Broken trade o’ Broughton, a’ in high repair?

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

There’s a noble Earl’s fame and high renown,  
For an auld sang—it’s thought the gudes were stown—

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here’s the worth o’ Broughton in a needle’s e’e;  
Here’s a reputation tint by Balmaghie.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here’s its stuff and lining, Cardoness’ head,  
Fine for a soger, a’ the wale o’ lead.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here’s a little wadset, Buittle’s scrap o’ truth,  
Pawn’d in a gin-shop, quenching holy drouth.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here’s an honest conscience might a prince adorn;  
Frae the downs o’ Tinwald, so was never worn.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here’s armorial bearings frae the manse o’ Urr;  
The crest, a sour crab-apple, rotten at the core.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here’s the worth and wisdom Collieston can boast;  
By a thievish midge they had been nearly lost.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here is Satan’s picture, like a bizzard gled,  
Pouncing poor Redcastle, sprawlin’ like a taed.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here’s the font where Douglas stane and mortar names;  
Lately used at Caily christening Murray’s crimes.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Here is Murray’s fragments o’ the ten commands;  
Gifted by black Jock to get them aff his hands.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

Saw ye e’er sic troggin? if to buy ye’re slack,  
Hornie’s turnin chapman—he’ll buy a’ the pack.

*Chorus*  
Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;  
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.

---

Source: [Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt)  
Canonical HTML: https://robert-burns.com/poems/heron-election-ballad-no-iv/