Jim Malcolm, "The Birkin Tree"

Oh lass, gin ye would think it right
Tae gyang wi me this very night
We’ll cuddle til the morning light
By a’ the lave unseen, O
And ye will be my dearie
My ain dearest dearie
And ye shall be my dearie
Gin ye meet me at e’en, O.

I canna fae my mammy gae
She locks the door and keeps the key
And in the morning charges me
And aye aboot the men, O
For she says they’re a’ deceivers, deceivers, deceivers,
She says they’re a’ deceivers
And ye canna trust tae ane, O.

Oh nivver mind your mammy’s yell
Nae doot she met yer dad hersel’
And should she flyte ye can her tell
She’s aft times done the same O
So lassie, gie’s yer hand on’t, yer bonnie milk-white hand on’t
Lassie, gie’s yer hand on’t, and scorn tae lie yer lain, O.

Oh lad, my haun I canna gie
But aiblins I maun steal the key
I’ll meet ye at yon birkin tree
That grows doon in the glen, O
But dinna lippen laddie
I canna promise laddie
But dinna lippen, laddie,
In case I canna win, O.

So he’s gaen tae the birkin tree
In hopes his ain true love tae see
Fa come trippin ower the lea
But just his bonnie Jean, O
And she’s clinkit doon beside him, beside him, beside him
She’s clinkit doon beside him, upon the grass sae green, O.

“I’m overjoyed wi rapture noo”,
Quo he and kissed her cherry mou’
And Jeannie ne’er had cause tae rue
That night upon the green, O
For she has got her Jonny,
Her ain lovin’ Jonny,
For she has got her Jonny,
And Jonny’s got his Jean, O.