A’ ye wha live by sowps o’ drink,A’ ye wha live by crambo-clink,A’ ye wha live and never think,Come, mourn wi’ me!Our billie ’s gien us a’ a jink,An’ owre the sea!6
Lament him a’ ye rantin core,Wha dearly like a random splore;Nae mair he’ll join the merry roar;In social key;For now he’s taen anither shore.An’ owre the sea!12
The bonie lasses weel may wiss him,And in their dear petitions place him:The widows, wives, an’ a’ may bless himWi’ tearfu’ e’e;For weel I wat they’ll sairly miss himThat’s owre the sea!18
O Fortune, they hae room to grumble!Hadst thou taen aff some drowsy bummle,Wha can do nought but fyke an’ fumble,’Twad been nae plea;But he was gleg as ony wumble,That’s owre the sea!24
Auld, cantie Kyle may weepers wear,An’ stain them wi’ the saut, saut tear;’Twill mak her poor auld heart, I fear,In flinders flee:He was her Laureat mony a year,That’s owre the sea!30
He saw Misfortune’s cauld nor-westLang mustering up a bitter blast;A jillet brak his heart at last,Ill may she be!So, took a berth afore the mast,An’ owre the sea.36
To tremble under Fortune’s cummock,On a scarce a bellyfu’ o’ drummock,Wi’ his proud, independent stomach,Could ill agree;So, row’t his hurdies in a hammock,An’ owre the sea.42
He ne’er was gien to great misguidin,Yet coin his pouches wad na bide in;Wi’ him it ne’er was under hiding;He dealt it free:The Muse was a’ that he took pride in,That’s owre the sea.48
Jamaica bodies, use him weel,An’ hap him in cozie biel:Ye’ll find him aye a dainty chiel,An’ fou o’ glee:He wad na wrang’d the vera deil,That’s owre the sea.54
Farewell, my rhyme-composing billie!Your native soil was right ill-willie;But may ye flourish like a lily,Now bonilie!I’ll toast you in my hindmost gillie,Tho’ owre the sea!60