I'll gar ye be fain

'If I were to follow a poor sodger lad,

My friend wad be angry, my minnie be mad:

A laird or a lord they were fitter for me,

Sae I'll never be fain to follow thee'—

'To follow me ye weel may be glad,

A share of my supper, a share of my bed;

To the sound of the drum to range fearless and free,

I'll gar ye be fain to follow me.'—

As late by a sodger I happen'd to pass,

I heard him courting a bonnie young lass:

My hinnie, my life, my dearest, quo' he,

I'll make ye be fain to follow me.

Gin I were to follow a poor sodger lad,

Ilk ane o' our maidens would think I was mad;

For battles I never shall long to see,

Nor shall I be fain to follow thee.

O come wi' me, and I'll make you glad,

Wi' part o' my supper, and part o' my bed;

A kiss by land, and a kiss by sea,

I think ye'll be fein to follow me.

O' care or sorrow no sodgers know,

In mirth we march, and in joy we go:

Fra sweet St. Johnstone to bonnie Dundee,

Wha wadna be fain to follow me?

What heart but leaps when it lists the fife?

Ilk tuck o' the drum's a lease o' life—

We reign on earth, we rule on sea;

A queen might be fain to follow me.

Her locks were brown, her eyes were blue,

Her looks were blythe, her words were few—

The lads o' Dumfries stood staring dumb,

When sweet Jenny Primrose follow'd the drum.