Traditional
I maun hae a wife,
whatso'er she be,
An' she be a woman, that's
enough for me.
Chorus :
Buy broom besoms! Wha will
buy them noo?
Fine heather ringers,
better never grew.
If that she be bonny, I
shall think her right,
If that she be ugly, where
the odds at night?
O, an' she be young, how
happy shall I be,
If that she be auld, the
sooner she will dee.
If that she be fruitfu', O
what joy is there!
If she should be barren,
less will be my care.
If she like a drappie, she
and I'll agree,
If she dinna like it,
there's the mair for me.
Be she green or grey, be
she black or fair,
Let her be a woman, I
shall seek nae mair.
Footnote : One of the many songs, according to Ewan McColl, collected by
Robert Burns.An entertaining ditty on the course of true love!
