WILLIE BREW'D A PECK O' MALT
Robert Burns
O Willie brew'd a peck o' maut,
And Rob and Allen cam to see;
Three blyther hearts, that lee-lang night,
Ye wadna found in Christendie.
Chorus.-We are na fou, we're nae that fou,
But just a drappie in our ee;
The cock may craw, the day may daw
And aye we'll taste the barley bree.
Here are we met, three merry boys,
Three merry boys I trow are we;
And mony a night we've merry been,
And mony mae we hope to be!
We are na fou, &c.
It is the moon, I ken her horn,
That's blinkin' in the lift sae hie;
She shines sae bright to wyle us hame,
But, by my sooth, she'll wait a wee!
We are na fou, &c.
Wha first shall rise to gang awa,
A cuckold, coward loun is he!
Wha first beside his chair shall fa',
He is the King amang us three.
We are na fou, &c.
Footnote : To celebrate the 217th anniversary this week of Robert Burns
setting out on his Border Tour (5 May 1787) on his mare Jenny Geddes, we
feature one of his best known songs. Although not written until August
or September 1789 this song was inspired by an event in the Scottish
Borders town of Moffat. Burns noted of the song - 'The air is
Masterton's the song mine. The occasion of it was this :- Mr William
Nicol, of the High School, Edinburgh, during the autumn vacation being
at Moffat, honest Allan - who was at that time on a visit to Dalswinton
- and I went to pay Nicol a visit. We had such a joyous meeting, that Mr
Masterton and I agreed, each in our own way, that we should celebrate
the business.' The result was this braw song which will be enjoyed by
all those who enjoy a refreshment in the company of good friends.
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