unknown author: Collected Lyrics
07 / 18
Public-domain lyrics

Haud awa' 2

unknown author

“Haud awa' 2” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

unknown author: Collected Lyrics Text 7 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

O, will ye ha'e ta tartan plaid,

Or will ye ha'e ta ring, matam?

Or will ye ha'e ta kiss o' me?

And tat's a pretty ting, matam!

Haud awa', bide awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald!

I'll neither kiss nor ha'e a ring;

Nae tartan plaids for me, Donald!

O, see ye not her ponnie progues,

Her fecket-plaid, plue, creen, matam?

Her twa short hose, and her twa spoigs,

And a shoulter-pelt apeen, matam?

Haud awa', bide awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald!

Nae shoulder-belts, nae trinkabouts,

Nae tartan hose for me, Donald!

Her can pe show a petter hough

Tan him tat wears ta croun, matam;

Hersel' ha'e pistol and claymore,

To fley ta Lallant loon, matam.

Haud awa', haud awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald

For a' your houghs and warlike arms,

You're no a match for me, Donald.

Hersel' ha'e a short coat, pi pocht

No trail my feets at rin, matam;

A cutty sark o' goot ham sheet,

My motter she pe spin, matam.

Haud awa', haud awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald;

Gae hame and hap your naked houghs,

And fash nae mair wi' me, Donald.

Ye's ne'er pe pidden work a turn '

At ony kind o' spin, matam;

But shug your laeno (child) in a scull,

And tidel Highland sing, matam.

Haud awa', haud awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald

Tour jogging sculls and Highland sang

Will sound but harsh wi' me, Donald,

In ta morning, when him rise,

Ye'se get fresh whey for tea, matam;

Sweet milk and ream as much you please,

Far sheeper tan Pohea, matam.

Haud awa', haud awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald!

I winna quit my morning's tea—

Your whey will ne'er agree, Donald.

Haper Gaelic ye'se pe learn,

And tat's ta ponny speak, matam;

Ye'se get a cheese, and butter kirn:

Come wi' me kin ye like, matam.

Haud awa', haud awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald!

Your Gaelic and your Highland cheer

Will ne'er gae down wi' me, Donald.

Fait, ye'se pe get a siller protch,

Pe pigger tan ta moon, matam;

Ye'se ride in currach 'stead o' coach,

And wow put ye'll pe fine, matam.

Haud awa', haud awa',

Haud awa' frae me, Donald!

For a' your Highland rarities,

Ye're no a match for me, Donald.

What! 'tis ta way tat ye'll pe kind

To a pretty man like me, matam!

Sae lang's claymore hangs py my side

I'll nefer marry tee, matam!

O, come awa', come awa',

Come awa' wi' me, Donald!

I wadna quit my Highland man;

Frae Lawlands set me free, Donald!

Credits

Written by unknown author

Words by unknown author. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Haud awa' 2”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
Keep tracing

More from unknown author: Collected Lyrics.

01Bide ye yetPublic-domain lyrics02Clout the CaldronPublic-domain lyrics03Colin CloutPublic-domain lyrics04Corn RigsPublic-domain lyrics