O Ay My Wife She Dang Me.

Tune - "My wife she dang me."


I.

    O ay my wife she dang me,
        And aft my wife did bang me,
    If ye gie a woman a' her will,
        Gude faith, she'll soon o'er-gang ye.
    On peace and rest my mind was bent,
        And fool I was I married;
    But never honest man's intent,
        As cursedly miscarried.

II.

    Some sairie comfort still at last,
        When a' their days are done, man;
    My pains o' hell on earth are past,
        I'm sure o' bliss aboon, man.
    O ay my wife she dang me,
        And aft my wife did bang me,
    If ye gie a woman a' her will,
        Gude faith, she'll soon o'er-gang ye.

Robert Burns

Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, the Bard of Ayrshire, and various other names and epithets, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. Born on January 25, 1759, in Alloway, he is best known for works such as 'Auld Lang Syne,' 'Scots Wha Hae,' and 'A Red, Red Rose.' He passed away on July 21, 1796, in Dumfries.

Robert Burns

To John Kennedy.

Robert Burns, Simple Poetry

A Dedication To Gavin Hamilton, Esq.

Robert Burns, Simple Poetry

Robin Shure In Hairst.

Robert Burns, Simple Poetry

Chloris.

Robert Burns, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Last May A Braw Wooer.

Tune - "The Lothian Lassie."


I.

    Last May a braw wooer cam down the lang glen,
        And sair wi' his love he did deave me;
    I said there was naething I hated like men,
        The deuce gae wi'm, to believe, believe me,
        The deuce gae wi'm, to believe me!

II.

    He spak o' the darts in my bonnie black een,
        And vow'd for my love, he was dying;
    I said he might die when he liked for Jean,
        The Lord forgie me for lying, for lying,
        The Lord forgie me for lying!

III.

    A weel-stocked mailen - himsel' for the laird -
        And marriage aff-hand, were his proffers:
    I never loot on that I kenn'd it, or car'd,
        But thought I may hae waur offers, waur offers,<...

Robert Burns

The Weary Pund O' Tow.

Tune - "The weary Pund o' Tow."


I.

    The weary pund, the weary pund,
        The weary pund o' tow:
    I think my wife will end her life
        Before she spin her tow.
    I bought my wife a stane o' lint
        As gude as e'er did grow;
    And a' that she has made o' that,
        Is ae poor pund o' tow.

II.

    There sat a bottle in a bole,
        Beyont the ingle low,
    And ay she took the tither souk,
        To drouk the stowrie tow.

III.

    Quoth I, for shame, ye dirty dame,
        Gae spin your tap o' tow!
    She took the rock, and wi' a knock
        She brak it o'er my pow.

IV.

    At last her feet--I sang to see't,
        Gaed foremost o'er the kn...

Robert Burns

The Carle Of Kellyburn Braes.

Tune - "Kellyburn Braes."


I.

    There lived a carle on Kellyburn braes,
        (Hey, and the rue grows bonnie wi' thyme),
    And he had a wife was the plague o' his days;
        And the thyme it is wither'd, and rue is in prime.

II.

    Ae day as the carle gaed up the lang glen,
        (Hey, and the rue grows bonnie wi' thyme),
    He met wi' the devil; says, "How do yow fen?"
        And the thyme it is wither'd, and rue is in prime.

III.

    "I've got a bad wife, sir; that's a' my complaint;
        (Hey, and the rue grows bonnie wi' thyme),
    For, saving your presence, to her ye're a saint;
        And the thyme it is wither'd, and rue is in prime."

IV.

    "It's neither your stot nor ...

Robert Burns

The Joyful Widower.

Tune - "Maggy Lauder."


I.

    I married with a scolding wife
        The fourteenth of November;
    She made me weary of my life,
        By one unruly member.
    Long did I bear the heavy yoke,
        And many griefs attended;
    But to my comfort be it spoke,
        Now, now her life is ended.

II.

    We liv'd full one-and-twenty years
        A man and wife together;
    At length from me her course she steer'd,
        And gone I know not whither:
    Would I could guess, I do profess,
        I speak, and do not flatter,
    Of all the woman in the world,
        I never could come at her.

III.

    Her body is bestowed well,
        A handsome grave does hide her;
    But ...

Robert Burns

Had I The Wyte.

Tune - "Had I the wyte she bade me."


I.

    Had I the wyte, had I the wyte,
        Had I the wyte she bade me;
    She watch'd me by the hie-gate side.
        And up the loan she shaw'd me;
    And when I wadna venture in,
        A coward loon she ca'd me;
    Had kirk and state been in the gate,
        I lighted when she bade me.

II.

    Sae craftilie she took me ben,
        And bade me make nae clatter;
    "For our ramgunshoch glum gudeman
        Is out and owre the water:"
    Whae'er shall say I wanted grace
        When I did kiss and dawte her,
    Let him be planted in my place,
        Syne say I was the fautor.

III.

    Could I for shame, could I for shame,
        Could ...

Robert Burns

Husband, Husband.

Tune - "Jo Janet."



I.

    Husband, husband, cease your strife,
        Nor longer idly rave, sir;
    Tho' I am your wedded wife,
        Yet I am not your slave, sir.
    "One of two must still obey,
        Nancy, Nancy;
    Is it man or woman, say,
        My spouse, Nancy?"

II.

    If 'tis still the lordly word,
        Service and obedience;
    I'll desert my sov'reign lord,
        And so, good bye, allegiance!
    "Sad will I be, so bereft,
        Nancy, Nancy;
    Yet I'll try to make a shift,
        My spouse, Nancy."

III.

    My poor heart then break it must,
        My last hour I'm near it:
    When you lay me in the dust,
        Think, think, how you will...

Robert Burns