A Portrait of Robert Burns Robert Burns

1771 - 1779 · Song

O Tibbie, I Hae Seen the Day


Tune ·  Invercauld’s Reel, or Strathspey

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.4
Yestreen I met you on the moor,Ye spak na, but gaed by like stour;Ye geck at me because I’m poor,But fient a hair care I.8

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.12
When coming hame on Sunday last,Upon the road as I cam past,Ye snufft and ga’e your head a cast—But trowth I care’t na by.16

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.20
I doubt na, lass, but ye may think,Because ye hae the name o’ clink,That ye can please me at a wink,Whene’er ye like to try.24

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.28
But sorrow tak’ him that’s sae mean,Altho’ his pouch o’ coin were clean,Wha follows ony saucy quean,That looks sae proud and high.32

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.36
Altho’ a lad were e’er sae smart,If that he want the yellow dirt,Ye’ll cast your head anither airt,And answer him fu’ dry.40

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.44
But, if he hae the name o’ gear,Ye’ll fasten to him like a brier,Tho’ hardly he, for sense or lear,Be better than the kye.48

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.52
But, Tibbie, lass, tak’ my advice:Your daddie’s gear maks you sae nice;The deil a ane wad speir your price,Were ye as poor as I.56

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.60
There lives a lass beside yon park,I’d rather hae her in her sark,Than you wi’ a’ your thousand mark;That gars you look sae high.64

Chorus

O Tibbie, I hae seen the day,Ye wadna been sae shy;For laik o’ gear ye lightly me,But, trowth, I care na by.68
Year
1771 - 1779
Form
Song
Location
Mount Oliphant
Tune
Invercauld’s Reel, or Strathspey
Source
Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns