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Song—Tam Glen

by Robert Burns, 1789

My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie,
  Some counsel unto me come len',
To anger them a' is a pity,
  But what will I do wi' Tam Glen?

I'm thinking, wi' sic a braw fellow,
  In poortith I might mak a fen;
What care I in riches to wallow,
  If i maunna marry Tam Glen!

There's Lowrie the Laird o' Dumeller—
  "Gude day to you, brute!" he comes ben:
He brags and he blaws o' his siller,
  But when will he dance like Tam Glen!

My minnie does constantly deave me,
  And bids me beware o' young men;
They flatter, she says, to deceive me,
  But wha can think sae o' Tam Glen!

My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him,
  He'd gie me gude hunder marks ten;
But, if it's ordain'd I maun take him,
  O wha will I get but Tam Glen!

Yestreen at the Valentine's dealing,
  My heart to my mou' gied a sten';
For thrice I drew ane without failing,
  And thrice it was written "Tam Glen"!

The last Halloween I was waukin
  My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken,
His likeness came up the house staukin,
  And the very grey breeks o' Tam Glen!

Come, counsel, dear Tittie, don't tarry;
  I'll gie ye my bonie black hen,
Gif ye will advise me to marry
  The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen.

Published in Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
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