Collection of ballads, songsheets. 2 vols. London: J. Pitts, 1805­1840?  University of Minnesota Libraries. WILSON Rare Books Quarto 820.1 Z. Vol. 1.    

Half-sheet.


<Wood engraving: abstract ornament.>

Green Grows the Rashes

Written by Robert Burns.
Pitts, Printer Toy and Marble Warehouse 6, Great St. Andrew Street 7 dials


THERE's nought but care on ev'ry han
    In every hour that passes O,
What signifies the life of man,
    An' twere na for the lasses O,

CHORUS

Green grows the Rashes O,
Green grow the Rashes O;
The sweetest hours that e'er I spend
Are spent among the lasses O.

The warly race may riches chase
    An' riches still may fly them O!
An' though at last they catch them fast
    Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them O.
                                Green grow &c.

But gie me a canny hour at e'en
    My arms about my deary O!
An' warly cares and warly mien;
    May a gae tapsalteerie O!
                                Green grow &c,

For you sae douse ye sneer at this,
    Ye're nought but senseless asses O!
The wisest man the warl e'er saw
    He dearly loved the lasses O,
                                Green Grow, &c,

Auld Nature swears the lovely dears
    Her noblest works she classes O!
Her 'prentice han she tried on man,
    And then she made the lasses O!
                                Green grow &c.


Transcription, HTML coding, and annotations by Brett Single.  Glossary of Scots words: han: hand.  canny: gentle, mild.  tapsalteerie: topsy turvy.  sae douse: so wise.

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Michael Hancher
Department of English, University of Minnesota
URL: <http://umn.edu/home/mh/rashes.html>
Comments to: mh@umn.edu
Created 20 May 1997
Revised 25 June 1997