The Moudiewort (Poem by Robert Burns)

The Moudiewort

By Robert Burns

(CHORUS)

An O, for ane-and-twenty, Tam,

    An’ hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tam,

I’ll learn my kin a rattlin’ sang,

    An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.

(1)

They snool me sair, and haud me down,

    And gar me look like bluntie, Tam!

But three short years will soon wheel roun’ —

    And then comes ane-and-twenty, Tam.

(2)

A gleib o’ lan’, a claut o’ gear,

    Was left me by my auntie, Tam,

At kith or kin I need na spier,

    An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.

(3)

They’ll hae me wed a wealthy coof,

    Tho’ I mysel’ hae plenty, Tam;

But hear’st thou, laddie — there’s my loof —

    I’m thine at ane-and-twenty, Tam.

        An O, for ane-and-twenty, Tam!

            An hey, sweet ane-and-twenty, Tam!

        I’ll learn my kin a rattlin’ song,

            An I saw ane-and-twenty, Tam.

Note:

In his memoranda on this song in the Museum, Burns says simply, “This song is mine.” The air for a century before had to bear the burthen of very ordinary words.