Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Scottish songs > Volume 1

243
THE LASS THAT MADE THE BED
TO ME.*
BURNS.
When Januar winds were blawin cauld,
Unto the north I bent my way,
The mh'ksome nicht did me enfauld,
I kend na where to lodge till day ;
But by good luck a lass I met,
Just in the middle of my care,
And kindly she did me invite
To walk into a chamber fair.
I bow'd fu' low unto this maid,
And thank'd her for her courtesie ;
I bow'd fu' low unto this maid,
And bade her make the bed to me.
She made the bed baith wide and braid,
Wi' twa white hands she spread it doun;
She put the cup to her rosy lips.
And drank, Young man, now sleep ye soun.
She snatch'd the candle in her hand,
And from the chamber went wi' speed :
But I ca'd her quickly back again,
To lay some mair beneath my heid.
A cod she laid beneath my heid.
And served me with a due respect ;
And, to salute her wi' a kiss,
I put my arms about her neck.
Haud aff your hands, young man, she says,
And dinna sae uncivil be ;
* There is an older and coarser song, containing the same incidents,
and said to have been occasioned by an adventure of Charles II., when
that monarch resided in Scotland with the Presbyterian army, 1630—51.
The affair happened at the house of Port-Lethem, in Aberdeenshire, and
it was a daughter of the laird that made the bed to the king.