Deil tak' the wars

Deil tak' the wars that hurried Billy from me,

Who to love me just had sworn;

They made him captain sure to undo me:

Woe's me he'll ne'er return.

A thousand loons abroad will fight him,

He from thousands ne'er will run,

Day and night I did invite him,

To stay at home from sword and gun.

I us'd alluring graces,

With muckle kind embraces,

Now sighing, then crying, tears dropping fall;

And had he my soft arms

Preferr'd to war's alarms,

My love grown mad, all for my bonnie lad,

I fear in my fit I had granted all.

I wash'd and I patch'd, to mak' me look provoking,

Snares that they told me would catch the men,

And on my head a huge commode sat poking,

Which made me show as tall again;

For a new gown too I paid muckle money,

Which with golden flow'rs did shine;

My love well might think me gay and bonny,

No Scots lass was e'er so fine.

My petticoat I spotted,

Fringe too with thread I knotted,

Lace shoes, and silk hose, garter full over knee;

But oh! the fatal thought,

To Billy these are nought;

Who rode to town, and rifled with dragoons,

When he, silly loon, might have plunder'd me.