As I stood by yon roofless tower,Where the wa’flow’r scents the dery air,Where the howlet mourns in her ivy bower,And tells the midnight moon her care.4
Chorus
A lassie all alone, was making her moan,Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:In the bluidy wars they fa’, and our honour’s gane an’ a’,And broken-hearted we maun die.8The winds were laid, the air was till,The stars they shot along the sky;The tod was howling on the hill,And the distant-echoing glens reply.12
Chorus
A lassie all alone, was making her moan,Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:In the bluidy wars they fa’, and our honour’s gane an’ a’,And broken-hearted we maun die.16The burn, adown its hazelly path,Was rushing by the ruin’d wa’,Hasting to join the sweeping Nith,Whase roarings seem’d to rise and fa’.20
Chorus
A lassie all alone, was making her moan,Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:In the bluidy wars they fa’, and our honour’s gane an’ a’,And broken-hearted we maun die.24The cauld blae North was streaming forthHer lights, wi’ hissing, eerie din,Athort the lift they start and shift,Like Fortune’s favours, tint as win.28
Chorus
A lassie all alone, was making her moan,Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:In the bluidy wars they fa’, and our honour’s gane an’ a’,And broken-hearted we maun die.32Now, looking over firth and fauld,Her horn the pale-faced Cynthia rear’d,When lo! in form of Minstrel auld,A stern and stalwart ghaist appear’d.36
Chorus
A lassie all alone, was making her moan,Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:In the bluidy wars they fa’, and our honour’s gane an’ a’,And broken-hearted we maun die.40And frae his harp sic strains did flow,Might rous’d the slumbering Dead to hear;But oh, it was a tale of woe,As ever met a Briton’s ear!44
Chorus
A lassie all alone, was making her moan,Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:In the bluidy wars they fa’, and our honour’s gane an’ a’,And broken-hearted we maun die.48He sang wi’ joy his former day,He, weeping, wail’d his latter times;But what he said—it was nae play,I winna venture’t in my rhymes.52
Chorus
A lassie all alone, was making her moan,Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:In the bluidy wars they fa’, and our honour’s gane an’ a’,And broken-hearted we maun die.56