The Collier Laddie
17th century
I've traveled east and I've traveled west
And I've traveled owre Kirkaldy,
But the bonniest lass that e'er I spied,
She was followin' her collier laddie.
Refrain:
Laddie, O laddie,
The bonniest lass that e'er I spied,
She was followin' her collier laddie.
"O whaur live ye my bonnie lass?
Come tell me what they ca' ye."
"Bonnie Jean Gordon is my name,
And I'm followin' a collier laddie."
"O would ye fancy ane that's black
And you sae fair and gaudy?
O fancy ane o' higher degree,
Than followin' a collier laddie.
"Ye see yon hills the sun shines on,
The sun shines on sae gaudy;
They a' are mine and they shall be thine,
Gin ye'll leave your collier laddie."
"Though ye had a' the sun shines on,
And the earth conceals sae lowly,
I wad turn my back on you and it a'
And follow my collier laddie."
Then he has gane to her faither dear,
To her faither gane sae brawly;
Says: "Wilt ye gie me your bonnie, bonnie lass
That's followin' a collier laddie?
"O would she marry a man that's black,
And me sea braw and gaudy?
I'll raise her up to a higher degree
Than followin' a collier laddie."
Her faither then he vowed and swore:
"Though he be black he's bonnie;
She's mair delight in him, I fear,
Than in you wi' a' your money."
"O I can win my five pennies a day,
And spend't at nicht fu' brawly,
And I'll mak' my bed in the collier's neuk
And lie doon wi' my collier laddie.
"Love for love is the hargain for me,
Though the wee cot-hoose should haud me,
And the world before me to win my breid,
And fare for my collier laddie.