Poem by Robert Burns

The Highland Widow’s Lament

OH! I am come to the low countrie,
  Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Without a penny in my purse,
  To buy a meal to me.

It was nae sae in the Highland hills,
  Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Nae woman in the country wide
  Sea happy was as me.

For then I had a score o’ kye,
  Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Feeding on yon hills so high,
  And giving milk to me.

And there I had three score o’ yowes,
  Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Skipping on yon bonnie knowes,
  And casting woo’ to me.

I was the happiest of the clan,
  Sair, sair may I repine;
For Donald was the brawest lad,
  And Donald he was mine.

Till Charlie Stewart cam at last,
  Sae far to set us free;
My Donald’s arm was wanted then,
  For Scotland and for me.

Their waefu’ fate what need I tell,
  Right to the wrang did yield:
My Donald and his country fell
  Upon Culloden field.

Oh! I am come to the low countrie,
  Och-on, och.on, och-rie!
Nae woman in the world wide
  Sae wretched now as me.

1. I Gaed a Waefu' Gate Yestreen
2. Blythe Was She
3. Gala Water
4. Stay My Charmer
5. The Flowery Banks of Cree

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